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Dryomyza anilis

The Dryomyzidae are a small family of medium-sized to large flies (up to 18 mm). Some 6 species are known from Britain. Some species live in coastal areas where both adults and larvae feed on rotting seaweed. Thus a rarely used common name for this family is Sea-shore Flies. All species have big wings and a fully developed clypeus, setting them apart from the similar family of Sun Flies. About many species not all facts are known.

Dryomyza anilis is a rather small species, reaching a length of 6 to 10 mm. It is readily identified, for it is a dark kind of orange, the cross veins are darkly marked and the edge of the body is bend. This is not a coastal species. It prefers dense and damp woodlands. The adults are attracted to anything smelling badly: rotting carrion, dung and stinkhorn fungi. The larvae are hardly ever found in the wild, but the females lay eggs on rotting carrion placed by researchers, such as dead fish and pheasants. Still some believe that the larvae possibly live in rotting fungi as well. Males will fight for females. The adult flies are seen from June to the first night frost.

Dryomyza anilis is a wide spread species found all over the Northern Hemisphere, including America and Japan. A quite common species in most of Britain and Ireland.

This species is also known by its former scientific name: Neuroctena anilis