Banana Stalk Fly

Description:

Slender, long-legged flies belongs to Neriidae family of true flies (Diptera). These flies are much smaller than other Neriids.

Habitat:

I had found these flies in my backyard which gets less sun, little dampish. These were in our Indian Sherbet Berry / Black Currant, locally known as “Phalsa” (Grewia asiatica) plant. Inhabits tropical region. They feed on decaying matter (saprophagous). Also attracted to flowers, or other sources of sugar. Larvae develop in rotting vegetable matter, including bark and fruit.

Notes:

As in some fruit flies, neriid larvae in their final instar are capable of skipping. Neriid maggots can skip distances of 20cm in a single leap.