Psila fimetaria
Psila fimetaria
Psila fimetaria is a fly in the Psilidae family. It lives in parts of Europe (including Belgium, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia and Ireland), as well as in Russia and North Africa. It favors woods and forests, hedgerows, bushes and herbs, especially damp places with lush vegetation and among crops.
Appearance and size: Adults measure about 7.7–8.8 mm. The body is yellow-red with short black hairs. The head is red with a black triangular area between the eyes; the eyes are large and the palps are yellow. Antennae are short and red, with the third segment a little thicker and darker at the base. The wings are clear with a slight yellow tint. The legs are long and yellowish, with darker tips on the feet. Males do not have thickened hind femora, while females have a simple ovipositor.
Life and behavior: Adults are seen from May to September and are not very active. The larvae feed on plants (phytophagous and oligophagous) and develop in the roots, bulbs and non-woody stems of plants, especially around Carex (sedges).
Similar species: Psila fimetaria is similar to Psila merdari, but it can be distinguished by longer hairs under the second antennal joint and a darker outer base on the third antennal segment near the arista.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 04:53 (CET).