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I assume this is a tephritid fly (excuse the setting - i was doing dewdrop refraction pics when I spotted it), but are the mites parasitic or phoretic. just that normally when I've seen phoretic mites- they were paler in colour and more or less the same size. this almost looks like a family that's been there for awhile.

brian V.

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The 'tephritid' is actually a Geomyza, possibly tripunctata.

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Thanks paul- wrong again

brian V.

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Hi Brian,

Paul is right, your fly is a male of Geomyza tripunctata. Very nice pictures by the way, beautiful colours.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you anything more about the mites.

Jan Willem

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Hi Brian, the mites are larvae and nymphs of tetranychid mites (I think). AFAIK they are primarily there as passengers, but no doubt the urge to fed may occasionally get too strong. However if all of these mites took their fill, I suspect the host would die.

Oddly enough I have alrready commented on this picture this evening - a cropped image was attached to an e-mail sent to the Norfolk_wildlife forum. Very strange!