stink fly
(Coenomyia ferruginea)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | not listed |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Stink fly is a large awl fly. It occurs in Europe and in eastern North America. It is uncommon throughout its range, including in Minnesota. It is most known for its strong smell, hence the German common name Stinkfliege, which translates to “stinking fly.” Larvae feed on the larvae of bark beetles and other insects in the top layers of soil. Adults are sluggish and are found on foliage. Adults are robust, relatively soft-bodied, and ⅝″ to 11⁄16″ (16 to 18 mm) long. The head is small. There are two large compound eyes, one on each side of the head, and three small simple eyes (ocelli) in a triangle on top of the head. The eyes are black and hairy. The antennae are short and have three segments. The third segment has ring-like subdivisions. There is no bristle-like style (arista). The thorax is humped. The exoskeletal plate between the thorax and abdomen (scutellum) has two spine-like protuberances. The wings are brownish-yellow. The anal cell is longer than the second basal cell and is open at the wing margin. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The last segment has three pads. On males the the compound eyes meet at the top of the head. The thorax is dark brown. The abdomen is shorter than the wings and is mostly dark brown with some light brown spots on the sides of the abdomen. The front and middle legs are light brown, the hind legs are dark brown. On females the compound eyes do not meet. The thorax is shiny orange or reddish-brown. The abdomen is pale orange or almost white and very large, extending beyond the wings. All legs are light brown. |
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Size |
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Total length: ⅝″ to 11⁄16″ (16 to 18 mm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Biology |
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Season |
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April to June (North Carolina) |
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Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Larva Food |
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Larvae of bark beetles and other insects in the upper layers of soil |
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Adult Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 6/27/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Diptera (flies) | ||
Suborder |
Brachycera | ||
| Infraorder | Orthorrhapha | ||
Parvorder |
Xylophagomorpha | ||
Family |
Xylophagidae (awl flies) | ||
Subfamily |
Coenomyiinae | ||
Genus |
Coenomyia | ||
Synonyms |
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Coenomyia cinereibarbis Coenomyia pallida Musca ferruginea |
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Common Names |
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stink fly |
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Glossary
Ocellus
Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.
Scutellum
The exoskeletal plate covering the rearward (posterior) part of the middle segment of the thorax in some insects. In Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera, the dorsal, often triangular plate behind the pronotum and between the bases of the front wings. In Diptera, the exoskeletal plate between the abdomen and the thorax.
Tarsus
On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.
Visitor Photos |
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Andrea Rose |
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large adult!! |
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Luciearl |
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Always fun to find something new on my trail. Resting on hazelnut leaf. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Andrea Rose 6/10/2023 |
Location: Soldiers Grove, WI (Crawford County) large adult!! |
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| Luciearl 6/27/2022 |
Location: Fairview Twp, Cass County Always fun to find something new on my trail. Resting on hazelnut leaf. |
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| Luciearl 6/5/2020 |
Location: Cass County |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 9/25/2020
Last Updated: