CLOSED: HUNDREDS of tiny flies in pool

Big Rapids, MI(Zone 4b)

I wish the photo was better quality... these flies are only 3.0-3.5mm long... last week or so, I've been finding about a hundred a day floating in my kids' pool. The large stilleto-type proboscis suggests a biting fly, but nobody has complained of small biting flies... a predator of some type..?? The tapered abdomen, & small size suggests perhaps a snipe fly..??... 4-segmented antenna looks similar to a 'horse-fly'... suggestions most welcome. BTW... the specimens in the photo are floating in alcohol... the abdomen has swollen & 'exploded' from being in the water.... wish I had a microscope adapter for my digital camera; a +3 close-up adapter just doesn't give the detail I would like.

Thumbnail by LEO88
West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b)

Sorry, I'm no help but great job on the picture.

Big Rapids, MI(Zone 4b)

claypa... thanks for looking, anyhow. I think it's a species of snipe fly (Rhagionidae)... it really looks more like a Rhagio sp... but these are larger (6-14mm) flies... the Genus Ptiolina includes small snipe flies; 3-5mm, & habitat matches =moist woodlands... there are 11 species in my area... I haven't found any Ptiolina photos, tho... apparently, not as popular as Britney Spears...LOL.

Somerset, KY(Zone 6b)

These look like little Robber Flies, but I don't know either.....

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
BACK TO TOP