Diptera > Dipptera Index

Physocephala australiana, belong to the Thick-headed Flies family Conopidae (commonly referred to as Conopid Flies). Physocephala australiana also referred to as Kelp Fly (Atlas of Living Australia).

Physocephala australiana is widespread species across Australia, with type locality for the region Yanchep in Western Australia.

Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Most adult conopid flies are found around hanging around flowers. They are mimics of the wasps and bees, who they parasitise (they are also known to parasitise some hover flies). The adult females wait for foraging hosts, and when the host gets close enough, the adult conopids swiftly strike depositing an egg in the abdomen of the host, where pupation occurs and the larva will develop. The larva start by feeding on haemolymph (insect blood), then in the final instar stage, feed on the tissue of the thorax, that will eventually weaken and kill the host.

Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Following is a pair of Physocephala australiana, just separating after having mated.

Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort

Physocephala australiana feeding on nectar of the flowering Eucalyptus todtiana.

Physocephala australiana feeding on Eucalyptus todtiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana feeding on Eucalyptus todtiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana feeding on Eucalyptus todtiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort
Physocephala australiana feeding on Eucalyptus todtiana, Swan View WA © Jean and Fred Hort

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Diptera
  • Unranked: Cyclorrhapha
  • Informal: Schizophora
  • Family: Conopidae
  • Subfamily: Conopinae
  • Tribe: Physocephalini
  • Genus: Physocephala
  • Species: Physocephala australiana

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs Physocephala australiana, Bullsbrook Nature Reserve WA © Jean and Fred Hort
  2. Many thanks to Michael Jefferies for ID on Jean and Fred Hort Flickr posts.
  3. Physocephala australiana Camras, 1961, Kelp Fly, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Physocephala australiana
  4. Physocephala australiana Camras 1961, Encyclopedia of Life (EOL), https://eol.org/pages/714585

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