Here I have a created a collection of pictures, of freak flies, unusual finds or just something that I thought looked cool. The quality of these images varies as some were taken prior to purchasing new camera equipment. I’ve also included useful photos, like sex identification and mites.
Barbie and Ken – flies with no external genitalia
D. borealis male with no external genitaliaTwo female D. albomicans, the top without external genitaliaTwo female D. albomicans, the bottom without external genitaliaFemale D. albomicans with no external genitaliaTwo male Z. indianus, the upper having no external genitaliaMale Z. indianus with no external genitaliaD. nasuta with no external genitaliaD. nasuta, female on the left, male at the bottom and a newly emerged adult with no external genitalia at the topD. nasuta, female on the left, male at the bottom, newly emerged adult with no external genitalia at the topD. santomea male with no external genitalia (top). It is known to be male due to the sex combs on the front legs that are not present in females.
Mites – predatory and ‘food mites’
Predatory mite that was found in wild-caught samplesA mite that is commonly found feeding on the food of fly vials.Predatory miteA food mite walking with ease through a cotton wool ballA mite commonly found feeding on the food of fly vials.
Sex identification
Comparison of female (left) and male (right) of D. hydei external genitaliaD. erecta male (left) and female (right)D. hydei male (left) and female (right) colour comparison.Male D. subobscura sex combs that are found on the 2 front legsD. albomicans female (left) vs male (right) head. D. suzukii male’s have a dot of each wing which is absent in females.
Testes
D. hydei‘s highly twisted testesD. simulan testesD. virilis male on the left with abnormally small testesD. virilis testesD. ananassae testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testesD. virilis testes partially pulled apart to show length of the coilsD. virilis testesD. virilis testes partially pulled apart to show length of the coilsD. virilis testes partially removed from the abdomenD. virilis testes partially removed from the abdomenD. suzukii testesD. suzukii testesD. suzukii testesD. suzukii testesD. suzukii testesD. suzukii testesD. novamexicana testesD. novamexicana with the abdomen partially cut open to show how much space the coiled testes occupy inside.D. novamexicana with the abdomen partially cut open to show how much space the coiled testes occupy inside.D. novamexicana testesD. novamexicana testesD. novamexicana testes, the left still coiled as would be in the abdomen, the right stretched out to show the lengthD. suzukii testesD. melanogaster testesD. melanogaster testesD. madeirensis testesD. pachea testesD. pachea testesD. pachea testesPartially opened abdomen showing the tightly curled testes inside a D. pachea male.One curled and one spread out D. pachea testesD. nannoptera testesD. nannoptera testesD. nannoptera testesD. mauritiana testesD. mauritiana testesD. mauritiana testesD. bromeliae testesD. acanthoptera testesD. acanthoptera testesD. acanthoptera testesD. novamexicana testes, the left still coiled as would be in the abdomen, the right stretched out to show the lengthOne curled and one spread out D. pachea testesD. pachea testes
Eggs and larvae
A grape food plate with masses of D. hydei eggsD. melanogaster larvae that has eaten the red eyes of an adultD. micromelanica female with an eggA grape food plate with the eggs of D. melanogaster. Note the D. hydei above have 4 filaments per eggs whereas these only have 2 each.L1 (hiding behind pupa), L2, L3 and pupa of D. melanogasterD. pseudoobscura pupae; visible are the red testes of the male in the bottom pupae, compared to the female above.D. virilis eggD. virilis eggD. virilis eggD. virilis eggsD. virilis eggsD. virilis eggsD. virilis eggsD. suzukii egg on grape ASGD. suzukii egg on grape ASGD. suzukii eggs on grape ASGD. novamexicana eggs on grape ASGD. novamexicana eggs on grape ASGD. novamexicana eggs on grape ASGD. novamexicana eggs on grape ASGD. novamexicana eggs on grape ASGD. melanogaster eggs on grape ASGD. melanogaster eggs on grape ASGD. melanogaster eggs on grape ASGD. melanogaster eggs on grape ASGD. madeirensis larvae on grape ASGD. melanogaster larvae with intestines visibly purple due to the grape ASG foodD. melanogaster larvae with intestines visibly purple due to the grape ASG foodD. melanogaster larvae with intestines visibly purple due to the grape ASG foodD. madeirensis egg on grape ASGD. madeirensis egg on grape ASGZ. indianus L2 larvaZ. indianus larvaeZ. indianus larvaeD. affinis egg lain in grape ASG foodD. affinis L2 larvaD. affinis L2 larvaD. affinis L2 larva
Others
Gas bubble that has formed inside the wing of a D. hydei female.CO2 has passed through the gut wall and inflated the abdomen of this immature male D. hydei .Deceased D. melanogaster adult whose brains and eyes have been eaten by larvae.On the left, a D. melanogaster larvae that has eaten the red eyes of a deceased adult.Parasitised (left) and non-parasitised (right) D. melanogaster male by the wasp Leptopilina boulardiTop: an D. eohydei male that has developed with no/minimal melanisation.D. albomicans male heads from various angles. The white can only be seen from the female’s viewpoint. Left: not visible. Right: starting to be visible. Centre: fully visible.D. melanogaster larvae with intestines visibly purple due to the grape ASG foodD. melanogaster mature white-eye female lateral
Drosophila Photography 