What kind of bug is this?

[Randy]

I was hearing a weird high pitched noise today, kinda like a skeeter buzzing but higher pitched and louder and I finally tracked it down and found this little guy. I think it's some kind of fly but I've never seen one just like it before. Not a whole lot bigger than a regular house fly but has a lot thicker body. He was kind of fun to play around with. He will just lay on his back making that crazy noise but if you put him right side up he would fly off, crash into a window and be right back on his back side with his legs up in the air, making his noise again.

Anyway was wondering if anyone can tell me what kind he is?

Sorry pics aren't too good but if you think taking pictures of chickens is hard you should try a fly. Almost everytime I got him right side up he would take off on me. LOL

 

[Carols Clucks]

Hmm Some kind of cicada?

 

[sgtmom52]

How about this ~ Cluster Fly

Cluster Flies—Pollenia spp.

These insects, sometimes called "attic flies," often become pests in homes. They usually appear in late fall or early winter and again on warm, sunny days in early spring. They buzz around the home and gather in large numbers at windows, often in rooms that are not regularly used.


cluster fly adult
The cluster fly is a little larger than the common housefly and moves sluggishly. It can be recognized by the short, golden colored hairs on its thorax, the part of the body to which the legs and wings are attached. The larvae, or maggots, of cluster flies develop as parasites in the bodies of earthworms.

 

[GarlicEater]

He doesn't look like that picture of a cluster fly. He looks like some kind of over-muscled, squat fly.

I seem to remember a site called "What's That Bug?" somewhere.

Edit: The Orkin Man says you may have a phorid humbacked fly http://www.orkin.com/flies/phorid-humpbacked-fly/

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
Was it really that small? Humpbacked flies are only 1/16 to 1/8" long and are often mistaken for gnats.

 

[Randy]

Yea this guy is much bigger than a gnat.

 

[SunnyChic]

I think Cicada, too. Cicada

 

[StevenW.]

Something that needs to be smashed with a shoe?

 

[zengrrl]

I'm going with cicada. Def

 

[Randy]

Yea we have those around here but this thing is way smaller than any cicada I've ever seen. Now this thing might be some type of cicada but it's not like the others we have around here. It's probably like 3/8" long.



Here are some cicada larvae I found a couple of days ago.