Australiphthiria are unusual for bee-flies, in that they are nearly hairless and don’t have the distinctively bent wing-veins displayed by many species. They are diurnal.
These are very small insects that have been photographed here in Alice Springs.
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
It has been suggested they belong to the family Bombyliidae and possibly the genus Pygocona or genus Australiphthiria.
However, I have witness over 50 of them and none of them have the wings apart when at rest, they are always folded over their abdomen. Their abdomen is also more rounded. Our observations uploaded to iNaturalistAU are currently ID to the genus Australiphthiria.
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
They seem to favour the flowers of the family Malvaceae, both genus Gossypium and Radyera.
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Australiphthiria sp on Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
The Australiphthiria sp were also seen sharing the same flowers with other insects such as the Apis Mellifera.
Apis Mellifera and Australiphthiria sp on Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Apis Mellifera and Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum), Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
Apis Mellifera and Australiphthiria sp on flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose, Olive Pink Botanic Garden NT
