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Apart from, and more important than, the identification of the pictured fly, I have a question about its biology.

Sometimes I find dead large earthworms on the pavement. I wonder why they bothered to come out to the surface and die in the sun. This time I noticed an aperture in the worm on one side.
My idea: perhaps a Sarcophagid parasitoid forces its victim to surface. (I image a fly would't want to pupate 40 cm below the surface.)

There was no pupa in the worm's body, but then I assume the larva leaves it before pupation.

So: who knows more about this?


Remarkable is also this Sarcophagid female that was very much attached to the dead earthworm, and therefore easy to photograph.

cheers, Louis

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Could be, or might be Pollenia with similar biology.


Theo Zeegers

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True, I forgot about those! Erzinclioglu's 1996 booklet gives some info about Pollenia, but not where the larva pupates.. Thanks for reminding me, Louis