Cluster fly (Pollenia sp.)

Cluster fly (Pollenia sp.)

Description

Title:
Cluster fly (Pollenia sp.)
Caption / Description:

The cluster flies are the genus Pollenia in the blowfly family Calliphoridae. Unlike more familiar blowflies such as the bluebottle genus Phormia, they do not present a health hazard because they do not lay eggs in human food. They are strictly parasitic on earthworms; the females lay their eggs near earthworm burrows, and the larvae then infest the worms.

However, the flies are a nuisance because when the adults emerge in the late summer or autumn they enter houses to hibernate, often in large numbers; they are difficult to eradicate because they favour inaccessible spaces such as roof and wall cavities. They are often seen on windows of little-used rooms. They are also sometimes known as attic flies.

The typical cluster fly Pollenia rudis is about 7 mm long and can be recognised by distinct lines or stripes behind the head, short golden-coloured hairs on the thorax, and irregular light and dark gray areas on the abdomen. Cluster flies are typically slow moving.

Cluster flies have a widespread distribution. Six species are found in Britain and thirty one in Europe. Pollenia species are also and numerous in Australia and New Zealand (over 30 spp); they are a common pest in North America. P. rudis has spread widely in association with humans.

Description taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollenia

Tags / Keywords:
  • Biota
  • Life
  • Vitae
  • Eukaryota
  • Animalia
  • Animals
  • Arthropoda
  • Arthropods
  • Insecta
  • Insects
  • Diptera
  • Flies
  • Calliphoridae
  • Blow flies
  • Cluster flies
  • Pollenia

Admin

Date Original Photo Taken:
Original File Name:
_MG_4719-20.psd
Event:
Rating:
Date this image added/last updated on website:
Original File Dimensions:
4458px x 2859px
File Type:
JPEG
Color Mode:
RGB
Original Image Color Profile:
Adobe RGB (1998)

Location

Location Created:
Sublocation:
City:
Market Harborough
Province/State:
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
World Region:
Europe
Geo-location:

Rights

Copyright Status:
Copyrighted
Licensing Status:
Rights Managed
Available for Editorial Use:
Yes
Available for Commercial Use:
Yes
Copyright Notice:
© 2010 Dave Kennard

Camera Data

Date Digital Resource was created:
Shutter speed:
1200 s
Aperture:
f/8
Camera Model:
Canon EOS 450D
ISO:
100
Exposure Compensation:
0
Focal Length:
65mm
Focal Length (35mm equiv.):
Metering Mode:
Multi-segment
Flash:
On, Fired
Exposure Mode:
Manual
White Balance:
Manual
Light Source:
Exposure Program:
Manual

Additional shooting metadata

Lens:
Canon MP-E 65mm F2.8 1-5x Macro
Filters used:
Additional Optics used:
Setup:
Handheld, 2 shots
Canon MT-24EX Macro Twin Flash with home-made concave diffusers

Post Processing

Image Modified:
Software used:
  • Adobe Camera RAW
  • Adobe Photoshop CS5
Post Processing:

CR2s converted in ACR
Images blended for focus in PS CS5
Curves adjustment selectively applied in PS CS5 to brighten background
Color Fill adjustment used in PS CS5 to make background white
Composition modified in PS CS5
LCE applied in PS CS5