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View Full Version : Soldier fly Sargus bipunctatus

LordV
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 01:12
Apparently named after the two white spots on it's face. These have just started appearing in the garden- fairly large soldier flies- about 15mm body length.
One oddity is that it seems to have coloured "pixels" in it's eye- the position of these was reproducible at different angles so don't think it was a trick of the light. You can just see them in #2 but #3 shows them more clearly

Brian V.

Click on Pics for larger size


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1264/1405334013_a5c5a90a8e.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1264/1405334013_d6fe884d36_o.jpg)


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/1405334015_81f82c7f7d.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1182/1405334015_2c19423838_o.jpg)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/1405334021_b2687b8b7b.jpg (http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1301/1405334021_9395076db6_o.jpg)
alliec
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 01:34
Love the eyes in number three Brian, they look amazing. Great shots all round.

Alistair.
tmonatr
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 01:43
Nice shots, Brian. The eyes in #3 remind me of a Lite-Brite toy.:)
hidden forms
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 02:42
Great find Brian, nice detail/colour. are the white spots just markings or has it got a purpose for the soldier fly?
dreamline
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 03:00
I wonder if these 'pixels' somehow help the fly distinguish colour or movement. Perhaps they are sensitized to a particular wavelength of light...

Nice shots Brian.
Jay Lowery
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 11:15
great gold colors on this little guy
Photogirl2007
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 11:19
Very interesting info and pics Brian! Thanks for posting this.
racketman
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 11:39
I wonder if these 'pixels' somehow help the fly distinguish colour or movement. Perhaps they are sensitized to a particular wavelength of light...

Nice shots Brian.

Insects are more sensitive to ultraviolet light.
lcpete
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 12:07
Hi Brian love the first shot and the pixels on the eye in # 3 neat
Pete
LordV
20th of September 2007 (Thu), 12:48
Thanks for the interest everybody :)

Craig - don't know about the white spots - might help just ID the species as there is another similar but smaller soldier fly around at the moment.
I've never seen these "colour pixels" scattered around a compound eye before- nit sure if they have any optical significance or not.

Brian V.