Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Diptera (True flies) ➔ Family Polleniidae

Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830

Cluster Flies

  • Pollenia sp., female 1209
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2009-08-08 11:17:13
    Image number: 1209
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2009-08-08 11:17:13
  • Pollenia sp., female 1090
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female, det. cyprinoid
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2008-03-15 13:35:25
    Image number: 1090
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2008-03-15 13:35:25
    det. cyprinoid
  • Pollenia sp., female 1091
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female, det. cyprinoid
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2008-03-15 13:35:32
    Image number: 1091
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2008-03-15 13:35:32
    det. cyprinoid
  • Pollenia sp., female 4181
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female, det. Stephane Lebrun
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz; 2010-04-07 17:44:56
    Image number: 4181
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
    2010-04-07 17:44:56
    det. Stephane Lebrun
  • Pollenia sp., male 1267
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male, det. J.A. van Erkelens
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2009-06-21 10:58:01
    Image number: 1267
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2009-06-21 10:58:01
    det. J.A. van Erkelens
  • Pollenia sp., male 1268
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2009-06-07 12:49:18
    Image number: 1268
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2009-06-07 12:49:18
  • Pollenia sp., male 1025
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2007-08-12 13:46:57
    Image number: 1025
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2007-08-12 13:46:57
  • Pollenia sp., male 1032
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2009-08-29 11:13:18
    Image number: 1032
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2009-08-29 11:13:18
  • Pollenia sp., male 1026
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2007-07-21 11:28:51
    Image number: 1026
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2007-07-21 11:28:51
  • Pollenia sp., male 1027
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2007-07-21 11:29:13
    Image number: 1027
    male
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2007-07-21 11:29:13
  • Pollenia sp. 1086
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp.
    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald; 2012-03-17 11:54:45
    Image number: 1086

    DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
    2012-03-17 11:54:45
  • Pollenia sp., female 8142
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2017-10-31 14:22:59
    Image number: 8142
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2017-10-31 14:22:59
  • Pollenia sp., female 8143
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2017-10-31 14:23:22
    Image number: 8143
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2017-10-31 14:23:22
  • Pollenia sp., female 8144
    Pollenia sp. Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830    Cluster Flies 
    Pollenia sp., female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf; 2017-10-31 14:23:49
    Image number: 8144
    female
    DE, Chemnitz, Markersdorf
    2017-10-31 14:23:49

Further vernacular names:
Attic Flies
Distribution:
Holarctic, Australia, New Zealand.
Description:
The genus includes several similar species with a body length in the range of about 5 - 12 mm, which cannot be reliably distinguished by photos. The best known and probably most common species of the genus is the Common Cluster Fly (Pollenia rudis).
Biology:
Cluster flies (Pollenia) can be observed almost throughout the whole year. They often spend the winter in large numbers in buildings or other sheltered places and are among the first species flying in spring. Adults feed on nectar, fermenting fruits and faeces.
After mating, the females lay eggs in the ground near earthworms. After hatching, the parasitically living larvae bore themselves into an earthworm and feed on its tissue and body fluid. The larvae leave their host to pupate in the soil.

References, further reading, links:
  1. Gisondi S, Rognes K, Badano D, Pape T, Cerretti P. The world Polleniidae (Diptera, Oestroidea): key to genera and checklist of species. Zookeys. 2020;971:105-155. Published 2020 Sep 29. doi:10.3897/zookeys.971.51283