This very large hoverfly looks and behaves remarkably like a wasp. It’s one of the biggest hoverflies at 20mm in length.

Japanese: shirosuji-naga-hanaabu
Scientific: Milesia undulata
Found at Yokoyama Village in Munakata (Fukuoka, Japan)

I didn’t know there were craneflies this pretty! It was quite a surprise to see it sitting on a tree.

Diptera: Tipulidae
Dictenidia pictipennis
Yellow cranefly = bekkou-gaganbo

Location: fureiai-no-mori Forest Park in Munakata (map here)

Well, our long mosquito season is well and truly here. They were out in force today…

Diptera: Culicidae
Aedes albopictus
Asian Tiger Mosquito = hitosujishima-ka

Location: fureiai-no-mori Forest Park in Munakata (map here)

Diptera: Asilidae
Trichomachimus scutellaris
Robber fly = sakiguro-mushi-hiki

Location: fureiai-no-mori Forest Park in Munakata (map here)

I’ve never noticed this kind of robber fly before, probably because it resembles a bumblebee. It has wonderful eyes that follow your every move. A pretty efficient predator I’d say.

Diptera: Asilidae
Laphria mitsukurii
Robber fly = oo-ishi-abu

Location: fureiai-no-mori Forest Park in Munakata (map here)

Robber fly (shioya-abu) with one of its favorite prey, a Japanese Beetle (mamekogane).

Diptera: Asilidae
Promachus yesonicus
= shioya-abu

Location: In sweet chestnut grove next to Munakata Common (Google map)

I managed to get bitten by a couple of mosquitoes today, and was proud to capture a photo of the first one without killing it. How kind! I’m sure that the novelty of being bitten will wear off soon and I’ll be back to swatting at them as soon as I spot them!

Diptera: Culicidae
Aedes albopictus
Asian Tiger Mosquito = hitosujishima-ka

Location: In orchards and bamboo/pine forest above Yokoyama Village (Google map)

Diptera: Calliphoridae (blow flies)
Stomorhina obsoleta = tsumaguro-kin-bae

Location: Path between woods and fields near Munakata Common (map)

I haven’t identified this species yet.

Tephritidae = fruit flies (mibae)

Some useful links:
Tephritidae wiki = here
Article on genus Tephritis (entomological science) = here

Location: edge of field in Munakata (map)

Bibionid flies (ke-bae) have many common names in the USA, the most common being “march flies” or “love bugs” (although these are different species to the one below). The larvae are in huge numbers in the soil/leaf-litter of the forest floor and are very important for decomposition and the recycling of nutrients.

University of Florida article on love bugs here.

Wikipedia article on love bugs here.

Bibio omani on Gifu University insect site here.

It was getting dark when I took these photos, so they are pretty poor quality.

Diptera: Bibionidae (= ke-bae)
Bibio omani (I think)

Location: Sweet chestnut grove at the edge of Fureiai-no-mori in Munakata (map)