Getting to know flies
There’s an important reason why the Bug Hunt logo features a hoverfly, they are often unsung heroes! Many flies are mighty pollinators and incredible nutrient recyclers busy breaking down waste. Some can even help investigators solve crimes.
The CSIRO estimates there may be 30,000 species of fly in Australia, with only just more than 6,000 having a scientific name. Sometimes flies can get lifted up into wind currents and travel thousands of kilometers, like from central Australia down to Victoria.
Flies that have hitchhiked to Australia can cause serious problems, like the introduced house fly (Musca domestica, mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) and Australian sheep blowfly (Lucilia cuprina).
Fly Gallery
Hoverfly
Syrphidae
Tangle-veined Fly
Trichophthalma
Long-Legged Fly
Heteropsilpous
Bee fly
Bombylidae
Join the Bug Hunt for flies
By taking photos of flies and uploading them into iNaturalist, you can help grow our knowledge about where they live, what habitat they like, and what they feed on. You might even help discover a new species, or help spark action when a species is out of place, like when the Queensland fruit fly (Bactorcera tryoni) arrived in Tasmania.
In iNaturalist, go to projects, search for ‘Bug Hunt Australia’ and join.
Tips for spotting and photographing flies
Flies can be easier to photograph in the morning when they are a bit slower, or when they are busy feeding. As many flies are pollinators, taking the time to watch flowers can help you find them. Window sills are often a good spot too!
When taking photos for iNaturalist, remember:
- Have your GPS location turned on.
- Take lots of photos. Slowly move closer and try not to cast a shadow on them.
- Upload your shots photos directly through the iNaturalist app, or through your computer at www.inaturalist.org. The app AI may suggest a specific species, but if you’re not confident on the species identification (some species can look quite similar), just select the level of identification you are most comfortable with – it could be ‘Hover Flies’ or just ‘flies’ or even just ‘insect’ if you’re not sure. Experts in the iNaturalist community can then suggest a more specific identification for you.
- Adding a photo or some notes about the type of environment or the plants nearby can help build knowledge about what kind of habitat the fly likes.
Backyard flies
Common halfband hover flies (Melangyna viridiceps) and yellow-shouldered stout hover flies (Simosyrphus grandicornis) are often spotted pollinating flowers – and frequently confused for bees!
To find out what flies are being observed near you, go to www.inaturalist.org/observations and search for ‘flies’ in your location.