TQ 93, 85, 75
TM 13, 23
Ted Benton
ON FLIES AND BONFIRES
The taking of a rare 'smoke fly' in Essex prompted
this brief account of flies and fires.
In Britain five species of flies are known to be
associated with wood fires and smoke, one of these
the Empidid Hormopeza obliterata has only been
collected twice in Britain. It was taken amongst
burning pine stumps and smouldering peat in Berkshire
way back in 19l8, and again in 1977 at Windsor.
This appears to be an isolated instance of attraction
to smoke amongst the Empididae. None of the other
three hundred and sixty British species are known to
have such tastes.
In the family Platypezidae, all three British species
of the genus Microsania are attracted to wood smoke.
They can be found in small swarms actually hovering
in the clouds of smoke. Indeed, these flies are
rarely found in any other situation. Of the native
species, only one has been found in Essex, this being
Microsania pectinipennis. Chandler reports it from
Benfleet and I have taken it at Manor Park (TQ 42.96)
in July 1976 and in Dagnam Park (TQ 55.93)in June
1980.
The last British fly and the one which prompted this
short note is a member of the family Asteidae,
known as Astiosoma rufifrons. Astiosoma is a small
genus of flies worldwide (only eight species) with
only one British representative. It is a diminutive
fly slightly exceeding 2 mm. in length. Until
recently it was known from only a single record in