CLOSED: Interesting thread re: flies on tree branch tips

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/706604/#post_3331059

I've noticed flies hanging out on the branch tips of my Dawn Redwood in the spring. There was a little damage - I was out there every day knocking them off. The flies I saw were lethargic or motionless and I thought it was very strange!

I saw that thread above and it reminded me of them, any ideas?

What, no photo? Didn't you get a new camera for your birthday? lol

I'm jealous you have a Dawn Redwood...probably one of my fave trees!

Since you mentioned it, I went to take a picture and sure enough there was a fly on a branch tip!

Another.
I haven't looked for any ID yet, I was googling "fly tree branch tip" etc. and getting some hits, but they were very technical and it was late.

This message was edited Aug 30, 2007 12:34 PM

This is what Japanese beetle damage looks like. In the spring, I was out there with a dish of soapy water several times a day, so this one little area is the extent of their damage this year.

I suppose the Metasequoia chat belongs in the pests and diseases forum, but I really wanted to call attention to that thread I linked above about the Japanese maple.

claypa, I'm gonna watch this thread, to find out what your fly is. Looks sorta syrphidy, but that thorax is so unusual, and it looks like it has a neck!! I'm stumped.

Here's another post about the same fly:

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/907235/

claypa - Were your flies alive? Did you see them fly?

I'm kind of wondering if this is some kind of fungus or parasitic something or other that is coming out of the body segments. Behind the head (that makes it look like it has a neck) and the abdominal segments look strange. The lighter colored "stripes" seem to be bulging...

Is there any way you could send this photo to the entomologist at your land grant college? The Extension service here has one who ID's insects for us (Texas A&M).

You're right, they're ordinary blowflies with a fungal infection that drives them to light in a prominent place where other flies will try to mate with them and get infected. Amazing...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/25817

http://bugguide.net/node/view/59369/bgimage

Posting this over here too, in case someone is "watching" this thread and hasn't seen the other...
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/entomophthora_m.html

Another interesting site:
http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/features/insects/entomophthora/entomophora.htm

I question the statement that only male flies are susceptible, and wonder where that poster got his information. Cornell and U of Wisconsin don't agree with him....