Since childhood, we all know the tale of the remarkable writer Korney Chukovsky “The Fly-Tsokotuha,” and as we matured, we wondered why she “went across the field” rather than flying. Flies are widely represented in the folklore of different nations, and in Ancient Egypt there was even a Golden Flies award. But let's try to ignore, and in our short review - the most beautiful flies according to most-beauty.ru.
1
Tachinidae
This family is also called hedgehogs, and they settled around the globe. Because of the short bristles that cover the body, they got the second name.
Depending on the region of habitat, the color of a small fly changes. There are species that have a completely dark body, and there are bright ones with purple and reddish porches.
The body is ovoid, but there are also cone-shaped forms consisting of 4 rings. They feed on nectar of flowers, and some of the species of tahini fly out only at dusk.
2
Chloromyia formosa
Adult individuals of this beautiful species of lion flies grow up to 1 cm in length, and got their name because of the unusual coloring of the body and limbs.
Females are blue-green with a purple hue, while males are copper-green with a metallic sheen. The wings are yellow, almost transparent, but the legs are black with yellow spots on the knees.
Their range is quite extensive, from the Far East to North Africa. Females and males feed on plants, sometimes acting as the only pollinators of rare flowers and plants.
3
Athericidae
The remains of this insect were found in China in Jurassic sediments. The oldest ancestors of modern flies of the Tabanomorpha order led an ectoparasitic way of life.
Modern flies grow to 18 mm, and have an unusual cone-shaped body structure. Huge red eyes stand out on a small head. Usually black with thin white stripes. Another characteristic feature is the long legs, which make them look like mosquitoes.
For the most part, they feed on nectar, but females of certain species, in order to produce offspring, feed on blood.
4
Cereals / Chloropidae
In total, about 3,500 species of this family live on the planet, only in Russia there are more than 500 species. One of the subspecies was found in Baltic amber.
Grow up to 8 mm. There are no cells at the base of the wings, and the prothorax is decorated with dark stripes. Small individuals are usually black with yellow stripes. Among the variety there are saprophages and predators that feed on insects and larvae.
They can cause great harm to crops, and, as the name implies, cereals. In Africa and in the tropical zone of the planet, there are species that act as carriers of dangerous diseases.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the most unusual insects.
5
Ktyri / Asilidae
Predatory dipterous insects settled on all continents except Antarctica. The largest populations have chosen the subtropics. For example, in California there are more than 500 species, but in cool Norway there are only 20.
The shape of the body is quite an unusual threadlike shape, but it also occurs with a flattened abdomen. In the Palaearctic region, there are species whose males grow up to 5 cm, and in the tropics you can find an eight-centimeter fly.
Ktyr are natural predators that hunt and eat other insects. They have an aggressive disposition, and they easily come to grips with wasps and bees.
6
Fruit flies / Drosophilidae
Continuing on the list of beautiful flies on most-beauty is a rather unusual-looking insect with a pair of wings, spread throughout the planet. A small fly grows from 1 to 8 mm, and the most famous and widespread is Drosophila.
Most of the species, and there are more than 4 thousand, are synanthropes, that is, their livelihoods are closely related to humans. The body is short, covered with small setae. It is difficult to determine the color, because they are almost transparent, especially tropical species. There are big red eyes on the head.
Small flies feed on the sap of plants, as well as rotting fruits. Larvae eat microorganisms. In the twentieth century, the fly became a model for genetic research.
7
Snipe / Rhagionidae
Quite large flies growing up to 2 cm are found in all regions of Europe and in North Africa. The oldest remains, which are about 250 million years old, were discovered in France.
They have an elongated abdomen with a short proboscis. Golden body with dark spots. Golden and wings, making this family one of the most beautiful among flies.
Adult individuals feed on nectar and other small insects, but there are also bloodsucking species. Snipe larvae develop in the soil and are predators. Some species lay larvae in water.
8
Mushroom Flies / Platypezidae
The remains of this family were found in sediments of the Cretaceous and Jurassic period, and today more than 250 species are described in science. This is a small fly whose larvae feed on mushrooms.
The habitat is forests. The little body is black with small white spots. They have rather large wings, if we compare the ratio with the body. Distinct head with large eyes.
In the forest, you can often find mushrooms whose caps are eaten by the larvae of Platypezidae. First discovered this new family and described the renowned Swedish entomologist Karl Frederic Fallen in 1815.
Do not miss, there is a fascinating article on the most beautiful mushrooms on our site most-beauty.ru.
9
Humming / Bombyliidae
Flies of this family grow from 08 to 30 mm, and the whole body is covered with short hair. This makes them look like some types of bees and wasps. In addition, they have an extended proboscis in front.
Settled in tropical and subtropical regions. They feed mainly on nectar. Unlike adults, larvae are predators and feed on the laid eggs of other insects.
The oldest species of buzzing fly was discovered in 1985 in the layers of the Middle Jurassic period. The Soviet zoologist A. Kovalev introduced this fossil species into scientific circulation.
10
Transparent Creeper / Volucella pellucens
A small fly spread widely throughout Europe, as well as in countries of Southeast Asia and Japan. Adult females and males grow up to 16 mm in length.
The coloring of the thickened body resembles the color of a bee. Such a coloring helps the beetle escape from natural enemies, and she has a lot of them. These are birds, insectivorous reptiles and amphibians.
The Gourdale eats transparent nectar. Females lay eggs in hives of wasps.
11
Volucella inflata
Large short-haired fly grows up to 15 mm in length, and their wingspan is 10-13 mm. It is found in forests, but sometimes flies into orchards, growing close to a person’s home.
This species has an unusual color. The breast is black with orange edges. Across the body are orange spots. This protective color helps them protect themselves from birds and other insectivorous inhabitants of the forest.
This unusual fly spread throughout Europe, from the cold latitudes of Scandinavia to the warm coast of Italy and Spain.
12
Eristalinus aeneus
This fly loves to settle in river valleys, near freshwater ponds, streams. It occurs in countries of southern Europe. In the north, there are small populations in coastal zones.
This species has a rather unusual color. There are clearly defined black spots on the eyes, and there are five dark stripes on the back. The back of the body is covered with small setae.
Adult specimens reach 25 mm in length. They fly very quickly and low over plants, feeding on nectar of flowers. Larvae develop in reservoirs. The period of summer is from April to October, and in the winter period they fall into suspended animation, hiding in a secluded place.
Conclusion
We hope our reader is convinced that flies can be beautiful. In addition to folklore, they are widely represented in art. From the work of the ancient Greek writer Lucian, the expression “To make an elephant out of a fly” came to us, and Jean-Paul Sartre dedicated an entire play to it. In the picture of Carlo Crivelli “Madonna and Child”, the baby’s eyes are fixed on a small fly, which crouched on a marble parapet. Most-Beauty is looking forward to your comments. Tell us about your attitude to these insects.
And below we will post some more beautiful photos of flies: