Signal Flies (Platystomatidae) - 35 Species, Identification & Facts

Platystoma seminationis

Length 5 to 7 mm. It has a dark mottled body and reddish-brown eyes. The translucent wings are greyish brown and marked with white. This fly belongs to the family called Platystomatidae which means 'big mouths'. Unless identified by a recognised expe

Boatman Fly

Pogonortalis doclea

The males wave wings in display and engage in head-to-head combat

Rivellia coquilletti

Identification: The wing pattern is unique, though at least one species is similar. Thorax dark green to black, abdomen yellow at base. Femora yellow.

Rivellia metallica

Identification: One of a few species with weak wing bands

Rivellia syngenesiae

A distinctive little picture-winged fly that is most likely to be confused with the ulidiid Herina frondescentiae or some tephritids of the genus Urophora, though the wing markings are very different when compared with these. The adults wave their wi

Rivellia vaga

Identification: fourth band usually narrowly joined to third band at costal margin Both sexes with thorax and abdominal tergites sometimes brown; tarsi of front legs sometimes wholly yellow; fourth band sometimes separated from third band at costal m

Senopterina foxleei

Identification: Distinguished from other species related to Senopterina brevipes by the combination of vertex evenly rounded and palps black.

Senopterina mexicana

Identification: Wing with the brevipes type pattern (dark along costa, in basal cells, and around m-cu), palps reddish-yellow, legs dark except for knees.

Senopterina varia

Identification: Wing markings more extensive than in other North American species, with yellow areas between brown. There is no comprehensive key to or revision of Senopterina . The flies placed on this page are generally similar to S. varia describ