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Project Noah Nature School
Stomoxys calcitrans
Black and white/grey fly with dark red eyes.
This fly was so pre-occupied with blowing bubbles it didn't mind I was sticking a lens in it's face. It blew a bubble then sucked it all back in again a few times. Why? It is not clearly understood and there have been lots of suggestions including cooling by evaporation, heating by solar gain, being sick, scaring away attackers, cleaning their mouthparts, and aerating or concentrating liquid food.
Thanks for the ID Stephen. This was the first time I had seen this as well Shanna and nobody knows exactly why they do it.
Spotted on Jan 27, 2013
Submitted on Feb 9, 2013
