For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Stalk-eyed Fly ( Diasemopsis)

Family Diopsidae
 These have to be the most amazing flies I have ever seen and very difficult to photograph so excuse the bad pictures but at least they will give you an idea of what they look like.
 Their eyes are the red bulbs at the ends of the stalks protruding from its head!! Amazing!! Well to me anyway.


They are very small with clear wings of only 6mm and are found in warmer forested areas.
Info: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa

6 comments:

Zimbabwe said...

A new one on me. They are weird!! Take care Diane

Mary said...

This is an amazing creature, Joan; thanks for showing it to us! I have enjoyed browsing all your recent entries, as always--what a fine photographer you are.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I agree it is wierd Diane. A most unusual find for me.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary. Lovely to hear from you. It is always so exciting finding such unusual critters.

Andrea said...

Hi Joan!
Difficult to believe they are eyes and not antennas. It seems a shark: do you remember? There is one with similar eyes.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You are so right Andrea, there is a shark with similar eyes. A really strange place to have eyes.