Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Ant with long antenna
#1
About 4mm long. Pictured in Tanzania.
#2
He fooled you!! :-) :-)
It's not ant ant, it's a cricket, so Orthoptera, Gryllidae!
Greetings
#3
orthopteran indeed... amazing..
#4
Wow! Fooled me alright!
I was wondering about the long hindlegs though.
Thanks Gerard.
#5
Any idea of species or genus?
#7
Thanks Tony,
it looks very much like L1. Should I assume Macroxiphus siamensis?
#8
No, I don't think it's the same species. May not even be the same genus, but is closely related.
#9
ok, thanks.
BTW, the mimicry of this cricket, is it an evolutionary mechanism of survival or just coincidence that it resembles an insect. If mimicry, why would it mimic an ant?
Posted by
Xespok on 18-03-2009 07:12
#10
Beacuse ants are among the most featful insects in other insects eyes. They are pretty strong as individuals. but almost undefeatable as a superindividual. Attacking an ant means attacking possibly millions of ants. Therefore most predators leave ants alone.
That is why there are convincing ant mimics in almost all arthropod groups, including Orthotpera, Heteroptera, Aranaea, non-formicid Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera etc.
Edited by
Xespok on 18-03-2009 07:12
#11
Thanks Xespok.
The other day I saw a small 1mm ant scare away a jumping spider. You information answers many questions

#12
And there is a small correction to be made! It's Orthoptera alright, but as you can see on the page which Tony send it's not a cricket (look at the adults) but a katydid nymph, so Tettigoniidae!
Greetings,
#13
thanks gerard.
