Eudasyphora cyanicolor

6.5-8mm. Resembling a bluebottle with its bright glossy blue thorax, abdomen and scutellum, but with very different wing venation. Vein m gently curves upwards towards the wing edge (giving the fly the occasional common name of Blue Curve-vein). There is a white dusted patch at the front of the thorax, just behind the head. Both flies in the Eudasyphora genus have a strong posteroventral seta on the mid tibia and this is particularly strong in E. cyanicolor. The eyes are bare and the rear spiracle is dark.

The very common Eudasyphora cyanella (the only other UK species in the genus) has a green thorax and a paler blue abdomen.It also has hairy eyes and a pale rear spiracle.

• 6.5-8mm
• Deep glossy blue thorax, abdomen & scutellum
• Bare eyes (or nearly so)
• Strong posteroventral seta on the mid tibia (near the middle)
• Vein m gently curving upwards
• Rear spiracle dark
• Vein r1 with short setae

Prefers shade so often associated with woodland.

Adults fly between March and October. Over-wintering adults may be found under bark or in other well-protected spaces.

Believed to be copraphageous.

Commoner in the north and west, less so in the Midlands and East.

Uncommon.