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 Midge on Moth
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| Stephen |
Posted on 11-10-2006 20:43
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 Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
In May 2005 I photographed this Sphinx Moth (genus Darapsa) in West Virginia, USA. Later I noticed there was a tiny fly, maybe Chironomidae, on the moth's wing. Is this just a case of a fly that happened to come to rest on the moth's wing? Or this there likely to be something more going on? Help figuring this out would be appreciated. --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Xespok |
Posted on 11-10-2006 21:23
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 Member Location: Posts: 5550 Joined: 02.03.05 |
Indeed, looks like a female Chironomid midge. |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 12-10-2006 19:15
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Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
Ah well if it is a Chironomid then I guess it wasn't feeding on the moth's wing. I seem to remember reading somewhere about a dipteran that did specialize in feeding on moths, but maybe it was just a dream.
--Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Tony Irwin |
Posted on 12-10-2006 21:35
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 Member Location: Posts: 7168 Joined: 19.11.04 |
No, you weren't dreaming. Several species of Forcipomyia and Atrichopogon (Ceratopogonidae) feed from the wing veins of moths, dragonflies and other large insects, while others feed on the haemolymph of beetles, etc. In this case, it's difficult to see whether it's a chironomid or ceratopogonid. I would expect the front legs to be shorter if it was a ceratopogonid. Also it's not a good place on the wing to find a decent sized vein, so I suspect this is just a chironomid that has come to light along with the moth. 
Tony ---------- Tony Irwin |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 12-10-2006 22:35
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Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
Xespok, Tony, thanks for commenting. If I see anything like this again, I will get a closer shot. As it was, I didn't see the midge until a couple of days after I took the picture. Too late!
--Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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| Xespok |
Posted on 13-10-2006 08:10
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Member Location: Posts: 5550 Joined: 02.03.05 |
Compare this image with yours. Mine shows a Ceratopogonid fly on the wing of a moth sucking haemolymph from one of the veins of the wing. |
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| Paul Beuk |
Posted on 13-10-2006 08:18
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 Super Administrator Location: Posts: 19208 Joined: 11.05.04 |
Well, as you can see, the legs in that specimen are much shorter. The length of the legs and the way they are held make me think of Chironomidae.
Paul - - - - Paul Beuk on https://diptera.info |
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| Stephen |
Posted on 13-10-2006 11:19
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Member Location: Posts: 1322 Joined: 12.04.05 |
Wow, Xespok, great photo! It is always nice when photos show something interesting that is behavioral. Thanks, everyone, for commenting. --Stephen Stephen Cresswell www.americaninsects.net |
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but don't see the image in the post.
