Signal Flies - Family Platystomatidae

This page contains pictures and information about Signal Flies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 12mm

Most flies in this family feed on mammalian faeces. Their larvae habits are varied. Some lives in plant trunk damaged by other insects or fungi.

This group of flies contains the spectacular species, the stalk-eyed signal flies. The males have eyes on long stalks extending from either side of their heads. But we never saw them in Brisbane.


Platystomatid Fly 1

Euprosopia sp.? body length 12mm
From its wings vein, we believe it belongs to the Platystomatidae family. Picture taken in Alexandra Hill, mid summer.


Platystomatid Fly 2

Lamprogaster sp., body length 8mm
We would like to thank Terence Chen here for sending us email advised us the ID of this fly.

We found many of them in Yugarapul Park along Bulimba


Platystomatid Fly 3

? sp., body length 10mm
We saw a few of this flies dancing on gum tree trunk. Pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest during mid summer.