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New flies.. evolution in action?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:15 pm
by chrismb
About a general topic as could be posted!...

Can't think of any other folks who'd be that interested in this, apart from y'all bright-eyed and information-eager guys and gals..

Some fly has clearly managed to stow a load of its maggoty offspring somewhere in my house. They are emerging now, and are regular house fly variety but they all have wrinkly edges to the trailing edge of their wings - and they don't buzz. I mean, they are totally silent in flight (excepting when they crash into a wall and their wings buzz against it). I've never ever seen a silent house fly flying and it's a bit freaky, actually.

Any botanists out there interested in a sample? I'm just squishing the little critters, but it's tricky to catch them 'cos you can't hunt them by ear!!

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:24 pm
by Aero
You are being invaded by aliens. It reminds me of the time I squished a wasp with the end of an aluminum baseball bat. I heard it go "Crunch" when I squished it under the eves and it dropped like a rock to the concrete side walk. Then it turned over and flew away. They are aliens, I'm sure. :lol:

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:50 pm
by DeltaV
Same thing happened to me with a "cow-killer" (aka velvet wasp) between the heel of my boot and concrete. Tough SOBs.

The new flies could be bioengineered hybrids, with stealthy, reduced-turbulence wings:
http://darwin.wcupa.edu/~biology/fish/p ... aptera.pdf
Your quest for alternative energy may have put you in the crosshairs. Better check the flies for embedded CCD cameras.

[Edit - Oh wait, you said trailing edge... never mind.]

Re: New flys.. evolution in action?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:16 pm
by MirariNefas
chrismb wrote: Any botanists out there interested in a sample?
Entomologists? Botanists study plants.

Re: New flys.. evolution in action?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:34 pm
by chrismb
MirariNefas wrote: Entomologists?
There yer go. Not always right. And there I was thinking entomologists studied where dead people get bricked up.

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:58 pm
by EricF
I thought you were giving them to botonists to feed carniverious plants :D

Re: New flys.. evolution in action?

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:51 pm
by MSimon
chrismb wrote:
MirariNefas wrote: Entomologists?
There yer go. Not always right. And there I was thinking entomologists studied where dead people get bricked up.
entombologists

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:28 pm
by Torulf2
I actual are an entomologists, or ecologist specialisation in entomology.
To identify insects needs more info. What part of the world is it in?
Have you a macro photo? There is about 240 000 of ”dipteras” in the world so its hard to know watt species it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:57 pm
by chrismb
They appear to be just like the house fly pic, but appear to have a smaller wing chord. In UK.

I seem to get a little spate of flies popping up every couple of weeks. I squish them too, or suck 'em with the vacuum cleaner.

Maybe the quiet ones have evolved to avoid me. Musca chrismbiensis?

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 2:00 am
by EricF
Well if you put one under a microscope and it looks anything at all like Jeff Goldblum, you might want to call a professional by the name of Delbert McClintock

Image

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:53 pm
by Torulf2
With no specimens to examine there is not possible to be sure.
From its behaviour it may be some of this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_Fly Its maybe to small.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenia This is more likely.
And there may be some of the Muscsca.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musca_%28genus%29