Sicus ferrugineus, Thick-headed Fly

Common Name: Thick-headed Fly

Scus ferrugineus, more commonly known as a Thick-headed Fly, is a species of fly from the genus Sicus in the family Conopidae. The adults grow up to 8–13 millimetres and the body is mainly reddish-brown or yellow-brown. The head is yellow, quite large and inflated-looking, with a kind of bubble at the front and narrow cheeks.

The short antennae are brown, their second segment has the same length or it is longer than the third. The large eyes are reddish. The legs and also the last abdomen segments are often darkened. The abdomen is long, round in cross-section, the seventh segment is oblong and conical. When in resting position the abdomen is usually folded forward.

They usually are found frequenting hedgerows and flower meadows from May through to September. They feed on nectar or pollen of various flowering plants, very often Asteraceae species. Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

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