Edited Book Insects and Spiders, Home Reference Library

Citation: 2002. Insects and Spiders, Home Reference Library. Fog City Press: San Francisco.

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2 comments

Dan Bickel - 10.02 AM, 09 February 2010

These flies are probably "Smoke Flies" (Diptera: Platypezidae). They are attracted to wood smoke, which functions as a point for mating assemblage. See my article on them:

 

 

Bickel, D.J. 1996d. Smoke Flies (Diptera: Platypezidae) and the Sydney bushfires. Australian Entomologist 23: 77-78.
BruceK - 8.01 AM, 21 January 2010
Can anyone tell me the name of the little insect which appears in large numbers in the smoke of campfires. The group appears to follow the smoke around as it moves in the breeze. What benefit are they getting from the smoke?

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