Two moths new to me

[atronox]

Do flies have plumed antennae?

[tanghb]

Do flies have plumed antennae?

Moth flies (Family Psychodidae) and Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae) do.

[atronox]

Moth flies (Family Psychodidae) and Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae) do.

Cool! Can't get over the fact that such strange things exist.

[Painted Jezebel]

I've had 2 replies to my query. The first suggested a male of the Coccidae family (Scaly-bugs), which is very doubtful. The second suggested one of the Strepsiptera (Twisted-wings, named after the fact that the wings of the males twist while in flight). These are endoparasites which live in solitary bees and wasps primarily. The females are wingless, so this would be a male. The only problem with this is that the largest they ever get is 4mm in length, and I don't know the size of this one. Also, I have extensively Googled this family, and failed to come up with a match, though found lots of fascinating information. (There are over 400 species)

I'm sorry, Tang, but unless they come up with further suggestions, it will have to remain a UFO.

273

[tanghb]

Thanks a lot for your help, Les.

The fly has a body length of about 8mm, excluding antennae.

[Painted Jezebel]

Thanks, Tang. That rules out the Strepsiptera. I'll add the size to my request and see if anything else comes up.

273

[tanghb]

Could be Drosicha corpulenta (Family Margarodidae).
The picture on the linked page shows a male on the left and a female on the right.
So it's not a fly.