 tiny Sarcophagids in love
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| Sundew |
Posted on 23-06-2008 20:44
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 Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Hi, Today I spent some hours on a sunny patch of sand in a Berlin pine wood where lots of Hymenoptera of all sizes dug their holes. But not all busy animals were bees and wasps. I saw several tiny Sarcophagids (not Tachinids as I first thought), about 3-4 mm long, that seemed to be very interested in the activities of the other insects. Now and then a couple found together and played a pre-mating ceremony: a peculiar flight one close above the other, and on the ground a kind of abdomen massage by the male for the wing-whirring female. The white face of the male shone like silver in the sun. I would really like to get a name for the small critters! Many thanks, Sundew This is the female: Edited by Sundew on 23-06-2008 22:28 |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 23-06-2008 20:45
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
This is the male: |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 23-06-2008 20:46
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
And here is the couple: |
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| Stephane Lebrun |
Posted on 23-06-2008 20:58
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 Member Location: Posts: 8248 Joined: 03.03.07 |
Nice pictures of Metopia species (in argyrocephala group), Sarcophagidae.
Stephane. |
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| Sundew |
Posted on 23-06-2008 22:33
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Member Location: Posts: 3890 Joined: 28.07.07 |
Thanks, St?phane, you helped me to find the right family and also supplied a genus name for the little ones. Argyrocephala is an excellently fitting name (for the males)! What did they do among all the Hymenopters - are they parasites, and of whom? I really would like to know more about their life... Cheers, Sundew Edited by Sundew on 23-06-2008 22:35 |
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but don't see the image in the post.
