''Pogonortalis doclea'', the boatman fly, is a species of signal fly (family Platystomatidae). It is native to

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and has been introduced to

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in the

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Description

Characteristics of the genus ''

Pogonortalis ''Pogonortalis'' is a genus of signal fly, signal flies in the family Platystomatidae. There are about seven described species in ''Pogonortalis''. Species These seven species belong to the genus ''Pogonortalis'': *''Pogonortalis commoni, P. co ...

'' are: the cheek immediately below the eye being less than a tenth the height of the eye; the hind femur having an anteroventral keel at the distal third; and the anterior crossvein of the wing meeting vein 4 before the mid-length of the discal cell. ''Pogonortalis doclea'' is sexually dimorphic. Males have a bundle of long curved bristles on each cheek of the head. In this location, females have a single shorter bristle among small hairs. Larger males also have the head ventrally widened.

Behaviour

This species waves its wings like the rowing of oars on a boat, thus the common name "boatman fly". ''Pogonortalis doclea'' is commonly found in Australian gardens. Adults are attracted to and feed on the fresh dung of mammals. Males engage each other in face-to-face pushing contests.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q14150717 Platystomatidae Articles created by Qbugbot Insects described in 1849 Taxa named by Francis Walker (entomologist)