''Platystoma lugubre'' is a species of

fly Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwing ...

in the family

Platystomatidae The Platystomatidae (signal flies) are a distinctive family of flies (Diptera) in the superfamily Tephritoidea. Signal flies are worldwide in distribution, found in all the biogeographic realms, but predominate in the tropics. It is one of the ...

Subspecies

Subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

include: *''Platystoma lugubre corsicarum'' Séguy, 1932 *''Platystoma lugubre lugubre'' ( Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830)

Distribution

This species is present in most of Europe and in the Near East.

Habitat

These flies mainly inhabit the edges of forests, parks, gardens, woodlands, scrubs and cemeteries.

Description

''Platystoma lugubre'' can reach a length of . These medium-sized flies have a body mottled with greyish and yellow. The upperside of the abdomen is shiny black with two large spots of yellow gray pollonisity. The lower part of the abdomen is lemon yellow. The large eyes are reddish. Halteres are redish yellow. Legs are black. Wings are black, mottled with transparent spots.Insektarium
/ref>George C. Steyska
Keys to The Insects of The European Part of The USSR
/ref> This species is rather similar to ''

Platystoma seminationis ''Platystoma seminationis'', the dancing "kiss fly", is a species of fly in the family Platystomatidae, meaning ''big mouths''. Subspecies Subspecies include: * ''Platystoma seminationis angustipenne'' Loew, 1854 * ''Platystoma seminationis bise ...

'', but the latter is clearly smaller and quite common.

Biology

Adults feed on nectar, while the larvae are

coprophagous Coprophagia () or coprophagy () is the consumption of feces. The word is derived from the grc, κόπρος , "feces" and , "to eat". Coprophagy refers to many kinds of feces-eating, including eating feces of other species (heterospecifics), of ...

and develop on dead vertebrates, buried corpses and decomposing plant material.

References

Platystomatidae Muscomorph flies of Europe Insects described in 1830 Coprophagous insects {{Tephritoidea-stub