Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Keroplatidae - Macrocera sp.
#1
Hi
* locality - Pa?l de Arzila - Coimbra - PORTUGAL
* date - 2007.08.31
* size - 7 mm (medium fly)
* habitat - swamps...
* substrate - table.
I used a lamp bulb of mercury (130 W) to attracted some flies.
I saw many keroplatids flies. I think this could be a Macrocera sp. but I'm not sure.
EDIT---> Title changed from "Keroplatidae - Macrocera sp. ?" to "Keroplatidae - Macrocera sp."
#3
Unmistakably that genus.
Posted by
crex on 07-09-2007 17:31
#4
Impressive antennas, but perhaps not the most practical ... Why soo long? Are they super sensitive?
Posted by
cosmln on 07-09-2007 17:57
#5
crex wrote:
Impressive antennas, but perhaps not the most practical ... Why soo long? Are they super sensitive?
i really don't know if sensitive or something similar.
but in
Lepidoptera is a similar group (
Adelidae family) and from what i know/i have seen that so long antenna have a role in somethinkga nuptial dance... so maybe similar???
just a presuption,
cosmln
#6
I think these flies are more nocturnal, crepuscular. I realized that these flies have a slow flight. I only found these flies during the night rather the day.
Antennas "
(..)are primarily for smelling. So they have little or no tactile function(...)" as Theo Zeegers told before.
Perhaps to find for food... they need big antennas in the darkness so they can easily find its supply of food. ?
I really don't know why these flies have long antennas, I just appointed one possibility. It can be wrong. I would like to hear more opinions.