Milichiidae (family)

1 Freeloader fly at Dunlop, ACT

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Identification history

	Milichiidae (family)	5 May 2025	DiBickers
	Unverified	10 Mar 2020	CathB

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User's notes

Large numbers of these small black flies attracted to this orchid. The flowers were newly opened and rain was approaching. No pollinia seen, but with so much activity they would probably have all been removed before I got there. Nearby Corunastylis clivicola only had occasional visits from similar sized flies, although I didn't get good photos. A second species of fly is shown in the accompanying sighting (4252459).

1 comment

DiBickers wrote:

5 May 2025

I’m not particularly good with Fly ID’s, but these look like Freeloader Flies.
If so, they are considered kleptoparasites of predatory invertebrates and I’ve often found them helping themselves to a free feed on the spider’s dead/dying prey.
Apparently some Orchards are known to use prey/carrion mimicry (kleptomyiophily) to attract kleptoparastic flies to pollinate their flowers. I have attached a link to the article if you’d like to have a read😊
https://nossa.org.au/2015/07/24/orchid-pollination-strategy-for-corunastylis-littoralis-part-one-of-two-part-summary-excerpts/

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Location information

Coordinates 149.074218 -35.267390
Altitude 584.6m
Maps Mount Painter
Places Dunlop, ACT

Sighting information

16 - 100 Abundance
8 Mar 2020 04:42 PM Recorded on
CathB Recorded by
Collections
My flagged sightings CathB NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Other true flies True flies (Diptera) Insects

Additional information

Corunastylis cornuta Associated plant
5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

Milichiidae (family) Scientific name
Freeloader fly Common name
Not Sensitive
Local native
Non-invasive or negligible
Up to 784.8m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning
External link More information

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania