Thambemyia borealis

Arthropoda-Insects

Thambemyia (=Conchopus) borealis (Barnacle Fly,  White Shouldered Fly) belongs to a group of flies in the family Dolichopodidae (Long-legged Flies) which inhabit rocky seashores and harbors. The eggs are laid in empty barnacle shells in the intertidal zone, and the larvae feed predators and scavenges in this habitat. Adults are attracted to crushed barnacles, crabs, and carrion. This fly is native to the coast of Japan, but has been found in Southern California (1993), Alabama (1994), Peru (2006), and New Jersey (2015),  It has probably been transported by shipping, either with barnacles in fouling, or with cargo.