---

Pleasant flies, several of them sitting on sticks on the forest floor. The first two photos are of the same individual, while the third is of a different individual. Hope they are the same species. They did seem to be hanging out together.

The arista look plumose for the entire length, I think. My first feeling was Muscidae, but if I am identifying the hypopleuron correctly it seems to have bristles.

West Virginia USA, 24 September 2006. Length 8 mm.

---

Second image

---

Third image, awful image quality I know.

---

Hi Stephen
The first two look like Anthomyidae (anal vein reaching wing margin, crossed bristle on frons support this); the third looks like Sarcophagidae (fan of bristles on the hypopleuron plus jizz )

---

Thanks, Tony! Another lesson that you shouldn't judge people (or flies) by the company they keep. These two flies were hanging about about 4 cm away from each other, but that doesn't mean they are the same species, does it!