Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Scatophagidae?

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 19-04-2010 19:03
#1
From the body shape, wing venation and spikes on the legs I would say it is a Scatophagidae. Am I right? Found today in Lisbon, about 8mm long.

Joaquim

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 19-04-2010 19:03
#2
... another view

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 19-04-2010 19:52
#3
Scathophaga stercoraria. Wait for confirmation.

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 19-04-2010 20:13
#4
What puzzled me is that these flies are supposed to feed on dung, not pollen ...

Posted by Roger Thomason on 19-04-2010 20:27
#5
Alvesgaspar wrote:
What puzzled me is that these flies are supposed to feed on dung, not pollen ...


Only the larva eat dung...:) http://en.wikiped...hophagidae


Jorge is correct...unusually :D

Regards Roger
Edited by Roger Thomason on 19-04-2010 20:29

Posted by tim worfolk on 19-04-2010 20:59
#6
I thought that the larvae predated other insect larvae in the dung?

Tim

Posted by Rui Andrade on 19-04-2010 21:56
#7
tim worfolk wrote:
I thought that the larvae predated other insect larvae in the dung?


I believe Tim is correct.

Adults, besides visiting flowers, are also predators. Below there's a photo I took today of a specimen feeding on a poor Phasia sp. (Tachinidae):)

Posted by Roger Thomason on 19-04-2010 22:09
#8
Of course Tim is right, it says in the Wiki article that they prey on insect larvae within the dung....But ever tried eating a bit of chicken in a chicken curry without also eating some of the "sauce" ;) Unless they are very picky eaters I assume they eat some of the dung also....clutching at straws here...:)

Roger....desperately digging myself out of the shit....AGAIN :|

Posted by tim worfolk on 20-04-2010 06:27
#9
'Tim is right...' usually with an 'a' and usually followed by something insulting; never on it's own - although I like the sound of it, maybe I'll have it put on a t-shirt. :)

Healey's First Law of Holes: 'when in one, stop digging'.

Tim

Posted by Alvesgaspar on 20-04-2010 09:20
#10
Thanks to all of you. Sometimes reality contradicts Occam's Razor and things are a bit more complicate than they seem... Nice action photo, Rui. When I grow up I want to be able to take them also!