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Photography with cameras
Nikon D3x, Nikon D300, Canon 50D
Image editing with Photoshop |
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| | | | Paraplatypeza atra | | Paraplatypeza atra belong to the order Diptera, suborder Brachycera, infraorder Muscomorpha ( unranked taxon: Cyclorrhapha), section Aschiza, superfamily Platypezoidea, family flat-footed flies (Platypezidae) and to the genus Paraplatypeza. Paraplatypeza atra are commonly found throughout the Palearctic and often reproduce twice a year. This species is non endangered. | | |
| | | | Paraplatypeza atra are small flies with body lengths of 2-2.5 mm. Their stocky, bumpy bodies are very dark at the top and light grey at the bottom and the females appear somewhat brighter than the males. Their heads are black (females: dark greyish-brown) and they have very large complex eyes, which at the males (until the mouth area) in the centre of their heads almost completely are pushed together and shell-like cover their heads sides. The eyes are bright red in colour. There are long black bristles on the back of the head and on the lower section of the face. | | |
| | | | The chest of the males is deep black, while that of the females is dark greyish-brown, and both are (if you only mean the females take the ‘both are’ out) covered with black bristles, especially at the edges. The surface appears to be covered in grey "dust" in places. The upper side of the female’s abdomen is almost completely black and has this grey "dust", the underside is light grey. The genitalia of the males are very large and are placed below the abdomen. The glassy wings are brown and transparent with clearly distinguishable veins. Paraplatypeza atra have brownish-grey legs. The feet (tarses) on the back legs are wider and more flat. | | |
| | | | These flies prefer moist,shady, deciduous or mixed forests, but are also encountered at their edges, especially in areas with moist and sandy soil. Before mating, the flat-footed flies often appear in large swarms, in which they mark their territory by leaving scent marks on trees and shrubs. As they fly up and down they let their legs hang down. When encountered on leaves and on wet sandy soils, they can be identified by their zigzag movements. | | |
| | | Paraplatypeza atra live on the organic debris from trees and herb leaves. The females lay their eggs on fungi, which the larvae feed on. The deer mushroom (Pluteus cervinus) is preferred. The larvae reach body lengths of 4-5 mm. Their yellow to brown bodies are shaped like isopods and have appendages of different sizes according to what species they are. The larvae of flat-footed flies pupate at the end of the last larval stage, in or on the soil. The second generation overwinters in the larval stage. | | |
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| | Description of images / photos
Photography with Cameras
Nikon D3x, Nikon D300, Canon 50D
Image editing with Photoshop | | 1. | Paraplatypeza atra | | 2. | Fly - Paraplatypeza atra | | 3. | Flat-footed flies - Paraplatypeza atra | | 4. | Black Fly with red head |
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