Fly ID please

Michael J Davis

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Oct 14, 2015, 11:51:09 AM10/14/15

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On September 5th I saw these flies dancing over a plant at the edge of a
lake (by a river in Rochdale):-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/21066988618/

I thought that I would easily find them in Collins complete British
Insects. But I can't find any fly that has antennae twice as long as the
body. Or am I misreading?

So help, please!

Then, a month later (October 1st) I see more dancing flies in the
setting sunlight in our garden (no water in the vicinity):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/22000018481/

Not such a good photo, but I don't think they are quite the same. Long
and spindly. Again not clear ID from various books.

Thanks for any help.

Mike

--
Michael J Davis
<><

Malcolm Ogilvie

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Oct 17, 2015, 11:29:43 AM10/17/15

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I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he says.

Malcolm

Malcolm Ogilvie

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Oct 17, 2015, 4:27:52 PM10/17/15

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I've hadesponse which confirms that the first photo is of mayflies, but goes on to say
that there are far more species than are shown in the Collins guide and that
identification is only possible by looking at specimens under a microscope!

Malcolm

Malcolm Ogilvie

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Oct 18, 2015, 5:10:09 AM10/18/15

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He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are caddisflies, some of which
are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to pin down to
species.

Malcolm

On Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:29:43 +0100, Malcolm Ogilvie <MAOg...@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>

Asha Santon

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Oct 18, 2015, 6:59:01 AM10/18/15

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i'd suspect caddis flies too. Telling one from another isn't something
I'd attempt but as a group they are reasonably distinctive.

--
AS
http://nature.opcop.org.uk
I knew the Triffids were real when I saw the signs
Caution: Heavy plant crossing

Nogood Boyo

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Oct 19, 2015, 6:31:16 PM10/19/15

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"Asha Santon" <as...@santon.invalid> wrote in message
news:mvvttl$cd5$1...@dont-email.me...

Yes, the first are definitely caddis flies (Trichoptera, commonly known by
anglers as "sedges"). If they'd been one of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera),
they'd have had two or three tails.

Probably (I'm told by an angling colleague who's well into entomology) one
of the family Leptoceridae; of which there are 31 UK species and all have
very long antennae (at least twice the length of the fore wing).

Best he can do with the second photograph is that it's possibly some form of
gnat (Diptera)

--
Nogood Boyo

Nogood Boyo

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Oct 19, 2015, 6:38:23 PM10/19/15

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"Malcolm Ogilvie" <MAOg...@indaal.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:baq42bts017tn0nmt...@4ax.com...

>
> I've asked a neighbour who is into flies (!) and will let you know what he
> says.
>
> Malcolm

Why the exclamation mark? Is entomology any more strange than ornithology?
Loads of anglers are into entomology.

Ah, I get it... Sorry, you might think of zips, but I think of mayflies and
sedges and stoneflies, etc. Identifying flies and then "matching the hatch"
is a great part of flyfishing.

--
Nogood Boyo

Michael J Davis

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Oct 28, 2015, 9:18:10 AM10/28/15

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Thanks Malcolm - I'll check that out!

(Wrong time of year for Mayflies?)!

Mike

Malcolm Ogilvie <MAOg...@indaal.demon.co.uk> was inspired to say

>
>He originally thought they were mayflies, but now says they are
>caddisflies, some of which
>are noted for having very long antennae. They are a difficult group to
>pin down to
>species.
>
>Malcolm
>
>>

>>On Wed, 14 Oct 2015 16:48:01 +0100, Michael J Davis
>><mjdu...@trustsof.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>On September 5th I saw these flies dancing over a plant at the edge of a
>>>lake (by a river in Rochdale):-
>>>https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/21066988618/
>>>
>>>I thought that I would easily find them in Collins complete British
>>>Insects. But I can't find any fly that has antennae twice as long as the
>>>body. Or am I misreading?
>>>
>>>So help, please!
>>>
>>>
>>>Then, a month later (October 1st) I see more dancing flies in the
>>>setting sunlight in our garden (no water in the vicinity):
>>>https://www.flickr.com/photos/watchman/22000018481/
>>>
>>>Not such a good photo, but I don't think they are quite the same. Long
>>>and spindly. Again not clear ID from various books.
>>>
>>>Thanks for any help.
>>>
>>>Mike

Michael J Davis

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Oct 28, 2015, 9:18:11 AM10/28/15

to

Nogood Boyo <use...@bwllfa.co.uk> was inspired to say

>
>"Asha Santon" <as...@santon.invalid> wrote in message
>news:mvvttl$cd5$1...@dont-email.me...
>>

>> i'd suspect caddis flies too. Telling one from another isn't something I'd
>> attempt but as a group they are reasonably distinctive.
>
>Yes, the first are definitely caddis flies (Trichoptera, commonly known by
>anglers as "sedges"). If they'd been one of the mayflies (Ephemeroptera),
>they'd have had two or three tails.
>
>Probably (I'm told by an angling colleague who's well into entomology) one
>of the family Leptoceridae; of which there are 31 UK species and all have
>very long antennae (at least twice the length of the fore wing).
>
>Best he can do with the second photograph is that it's possibly some form of
>gnat (Diptera)

Thank you both! Makes sense!

I realise that while I'm v. familiar with caddis larvae, it's a bit of a
shock to discover I don't know the adults when I see them!

Yes, I think the garden ones could be diptera, though some seem to have
four wings...