Mark McCaughreanmarkmccaughrean@mastodon.social

Oct 31, 2026, 5:28 PM

Perhaps even rarer, this seen on our front door by the ivy.

iNat & ObsIdentify suggest it's a black compost fly (Scatopse notata), but the gold between the antennae & around the thorax, & multi-coloured legs say otherwise.

Likely genus Apiloscatopse, perhaps A scutellata, v rare in DE 😱

#Heidelberg 🏰
#Photography 📷️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
#BugOfTheDay 🐞
#MacroPhotography 🔬
#InsectsOfMastodon 🪰
#BackGardenEntomology 🪲

A small fly seen from above and slightly behind on a white metal door. The fly has a shiny black head with black eyes and black antennae, the latter fairly short but wide, in many sections. The thorax is black and shiny with many fine grey hairs, but also with a golden band around the scutellum. The legs are mostly out of focus, but it can be seen that they're not just black, but have some golden yellow sections too. The wings are oval-shaped and folded, extending well beyond the dark, bulbous abdomen. They're mostly clear, with just a couple of veins standing out in a darker colour.

Another view from more directly overhead, showing that the golden band across the scutellum extends around the sides of the thorax too. A small gold yellow patch can also be seen between and around the bases of the antennae. The abdomen can be seen in more detail through the wings, showing yellow bands between each tergite, broad at the top and narrow lower down as the abdomen tapers to the tip. The calypters can also be seen and they're pale yellow.

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