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HOUSEFLY UNUSUAL


HOUSEFLY UNUSUAL
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2980 W: 108 N: 7751] (25112)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-22
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-24 4:18
Viewed: 742
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
HOUSEFLY UNUSUAL

This fly has left me somewhat mystified.
In size, shape and looks, it is just like any other housefly. It is in its colours, however, that it is quite different.
It has shiny metallic colours on its body -- a combination of green and blue.

We know of bottle flies, which are normally bigger than houseflies and have blue or green shiny colours on them.
But this one does not qualify as a bottle fly either.
So what fly is this?
Any suggestions/ideas are welcome.

POST SCRIPT

Ivan has suggested that this fly is most likely Protocalliphora azurea. I followed his lead and tried to gather information about the species. However, exact details about the species are rather scant on the web though there is a whole lot of articles based on this fly's parasitism, especially related to birds.
Here is the brief summary of my findings:

Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Family: Calliphoridae
Genus: Protocalliphora
Species: azurea
Accepted name:
Protocalliphora azurea (Fallén 1817)


TFL

marmottelolo, cedryk, uleko, nainnain, star74, jmp, dew77, RAP has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pankajbajpai: Hola Pankajramthakur 5 02-26 09:49
To Argus: Hi Ivanramthakur 1 02-24 16:18
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Critiques [Translate]

hello mr thakur,
good macro,
i liked the dark bg and the simple black framing very much,
it is in good contrast with the light coloured leaf,
the butterfly has been captured with good details,
sorry i do not have any idea about the species,
tfs & regards
pankaj

bonjour ram
je ne sais pas non plus de qu'elle espece il s'agit,mais c'est vrai que ses couleurs sont speciales.
je pense que vous auriez pu recadrer d'avantage.
le BG est bien flou.
laurent

Bonjour,
Magnifique ensemble bien équilibré.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hello Ram!
This is a member of Muscidae but I can not give you any details about the species.
Interesting composition with nice contrast and black BG.
Best greetings,
Radomir

Hi Ram,
A good composition. Excellent sharpness.
Shiny metallic colours are displayed very well; don't know what species this is though.
TFS
Annick

Hello Ram,

Composition: very nice composition, with the fly in a good point of the frame
Light: excellent of the fly, some overexposed areas on the plant
Colours: very nice, amazing metalic colours of the insect
Focus: perect
other technical aspects: all ok
Postprocessing etc.: all ok
Impact: very interesting and eye-catching

Best greetings MF!
Michal

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2468 W: 168 N: 7464] (23588)
  • [2007-02-24 10:10]

Hello Ram,
Amazing shot showing this colourful fly very sharply in focus on the worn leaf. I really like your composition, the POV is excellent and I like the brown background too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

hello RAM
magnifique couleurs pour ce genre de mouche
bonne réussite et tres bon BG
bien vu, merci et salutations
edith

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2613 W: 133 N: 7504] (23403)
  • [2007-02-24 13:27]
  • [+]

Hello Ram,
You have captured a beautiful species of Blue Bottle with a not such a beautiful life history.
This looks like Protocalliphora azurea. The eggs are laid in birds nests and the maggots attach themselves to the nestlings with suction pads and suck their blood, often leading to their deaths.
One could speculate that the birds that you have portrayed from your compound could have been affected by this species of fly, if not this individual.
This shot is very attractive, Ram, with a fine sharpness, POV and bg, well composed in a fine presentation.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1174 W: 0 N: 1980] (8393)
  • [2007-02-25 4:12]

Hi Ram,
Nice to have you as neighbour in form of a beautiful small fly :-)! I cannot help either with ID. Excellent composition, great sharpness and nice neutral background.Thank's and have a nice evening
Best regards
Anne

Hi Ram,
Wonderful macro shot.
Very nice light usage.
Beautiful dark background
Clarity,details and pov are great.
TFS

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2338] (8400)
  • [2007-02-25 6:13]

Hi Ram,
Excellent use of dof to focus just the fly. Perfect exposure, detais, colours and composition.
I remember this metallic flies from my chilhood. Thank for this sparkle in the neuronal files.
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-02-25 7:32]

Hello Ram,
Magnificent close up.I liked POV,dark BG,sharpness,colors,framing and lighting a lot.
TFS..:-)

Hello Ram,
This is an impressive macro, where the fly is depicted with great skill!
Good light on the subject while the background is dark, great colours and details in the subject...
In particular the eyes of the fly is impressive, and all is presented in this fine composition!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hello Sir,
What a composition.Fill in flash has sone wonders here. The fly is in perfect exposure throwing the BG in uniform black color.Colors are very well captured. I have seen this fly here in India.but as you know there are lots of species I dont know about this one.Very well done.

Regards
Mahesh

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-26 9:00]

Una composición muy bien lograda de este insecto tan común pero siempre atractivo para retratar de esta manera.
Buen punto de vista, con excelente foco y el consiguiente OOF, con adecuada iluminación incluyendo el flash y la estética ubicación de la rama conforman una interesante presentación.
Saludos mi amigo... Ricardo

A composition very well achieved of this so common insect but always attractiveness to depict this way.
Good point of view, with excellent focus and resultant OOF, with appropriate illumination including the flash and the aesthetic location of the branch conforms an interesting presentation.
Regards my friend... Ricardo

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