Cluster fly
Encyclopedia
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 earthworm
s; 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. Eight species are found in Britain
and thirty one in Europe
. Pollenia species are also 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.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Pollenia in the blowfly family Calliphoridae. Unlike more familiar blowflies such as the bluebottle
Blue bottle fly
The blue bottle fly or bottlebee is a common blow-fly found in most areas of the world and is the type species for the genus Calliphora.-Description:...
genus Phormia, they do not present a health hazard because they do not lay eggs in human food. They are strictly parasitic on earthworm
Earthworm
Earthworm is the common name for the largest members of Oligochaeta in the phylum Annelida. In classical systems they were placed in the order Opisthopora, on the basis of the male pores opening posterior to the female pores, even though the internal male segments are anterior to the female...
s; 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
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
, 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
Pollenia rudis
Pollenia rudis, the common cluster fly, is a species of fly in the family Calliphoridae. Pollenia rudis is also known as the attic fly, the loft fly, pollenie du lombric [French], and the buckwheat fly. During the autumn and winter months, Pollenia rudis can be found overwintering inside of attics...
is about 7 mm long and can be recognised by distinct lines or stripes behind the head, short golden-coloured hairs on the thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
, and irregular light and dark gray areas on the abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
. Cluster flies are typically slow moving.
Cluster flies have a widespread distribution. Eight species are found in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and thirty one in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Pollenia species are also numerous in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
(over 30 spp); they are a common pest in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. P. rudis has spread widely in association with humans.
Species
- P. amentaria (ScopoliGiovanni Antonio ScopoliGiovanni Antonio Scopoli was an Italian physician and naturalist.-Biography:...
1763) - P. angustigena Wainwright 1940
- P. atramentaria (MeigenJohann Wilhelm MeigenJohann Wilhelm Meigen was a German entomologist famous for his pioneering work on Diptera.-Early years:Meigen was born in Solingen, the fifth of eight children of Johann Clemens Meigen and Sibylla Margaretha Bick. His parents, though not poor, were not wealthy either. The ran a small shop in...
1826) - P. bezziana Rognes 1992
- P. bicolor Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
1830 - P. bulgarica Jacentkovsky 1939
- P. contempta Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
1863 - P. dasypoda Portschinsky 1881
- P. fulvipalpis MacquartJustin Pierre Marie MacquartJustin Pierre Marie Macquart was a French entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera. He worked on world species as well as European and described many new species.-Early years:...
1835 - P. griseotomentosa (Jacentkovsky 1944)
- P. hungarica Rognes 1987
- P. labialis Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
1863 - P. leclercqiana (Lehrer 1978)
- P. luteovillosa Rognes 1987
- P. mayeri Jacentkovsky 1941
- P. mediterranea Grunin 1966
- P. moravica (Jacentkovsky 1941)
- P. paupera RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
1862 - P. pectinata Grunin 1966
- P. pediculata MacquartJustin Pierre Marie MacquartJustin Pierre Marie Macquart was a French entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera. He worked on world species as well as European and described many new species.-Early years:...
1834 - P. ponti Rognes 1991
- P. pseudintermedia Rognes 1987
- P. pseudorudis Rognes, 1985
- P. rudisPollenia rudisPollenia rudis, the common cluster fly, is a species of fly in the family Calliphoridae. Pollenia rudis is also known as the attic fly, the loft fly, pollenie du lombric [French], and the buckwheat fly. During the autumn and winter months, Pollenia rudis can be found overwintering inside of attics...
(FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
1794) - P. ruficrura RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
1862 - P. similis (Jacentkovsky 1941)
- P. tenuiforceps RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
1928 - P. vagabunda (MeigenJohann Wilhelm MeigenJohann Wilhelm Meigen was a German entomologist famous for his pioneering work on Diptera.-Early years:Meigen was born in Solingen, the fifth of eight children of Johann Clemens Meigen and Sibylla Margaretha Bick. His parents, though not poor, were not wealthy either. The ran a small shop in...
1826) - P. venturii ZumptFritz Konrad Ernst ZumptFritz Konrad Ernst Zumpt was a German entomologist who worked mainly in Africa . He is best known for his work on Diptera and the associations between insects and African mammals. Also for his work on myiasis.Amongst Zumpt’s works are...
1956 - P. vera Jacentkovsky 1936
- P. verneri Rognes 1992
- P. viatica Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
1830
External links
- Images of some cluster fly species: Pollenia amentaria Scopoli ; Pollenia angustigena Wainwright and Pollenia rudisFabricius.
- European including Russia species
- Attic Flies, Kansas State University