Physiphora alceae

Odontomyia (Soldier Flies)Odontomyia Index Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly)

Physiphora alceae is a member of the Picture-winged Flies in the family Ulidiidae, belonging in the order Diptera, a large and diverse cosmopolitan family of flies. The species has a metallic sheen appearance over most of the body.

The males of Physiphora alceae have been observed doing an elaborate dance when courting the female. The courting behavour of the male includey moving his fore legs up and down in front of the female, as well as, he may also shake his fore legs, turn sidewise to his partner and lift one of his wings, tap on the head or thorax of the partner and probe her with his proboscis (mouthparts).

The Physiphora alceae pictured here had two mites, on either side under the wings.

Physiphora alceae (Picture-winged Fly), Adelaide SA © Marianne Broug — *Physiphora alceae* (Picture-winged Fly), Adelaide SA © Marianne Broug

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Diptera
Suborder: Brachycera
Infraorder: Cyclorrhapha
Zoosection: Schizophora
Zoosubsection: Acalyptratae
Superfamily: Tephritoidea
Family: Ulidiidae
Subfamily: Ulidiinae
Tribe: Ulidiini
Genus: Physiphora
Species: Physiphora alceae

Source: iNaturaliastAU – 18 January 2025

Footnote & References

Physiphora alceae, mariannebroug observations, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/258703775
Physiphora alceae, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/334334-Physiphora-alceae
Physiphora alceae, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiphora_alceae
Physiphora Fallén, 1810, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Physiphora

Odontomyia (Soldier Flies)Odontomyia Index Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly)

DipteraDiptera Index Drone Flies and Hover Flies Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Flies Index Anthrax (Bee Fly) Australiphthiria Balaana Beefly Cryomyia sp Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Miltinus stenogaster Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Odontomyia Index Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Physiphora alceae Physocephala australiana Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis) Therevidae

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub