Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
 Bombyliidae - are these a pair?
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| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 24-07-2010 21:37
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 Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
I watched these two for about 15 minutes today and after studying the photos have concluded that they are a female Villa sp, and a male of a different Bombyliidae species. He was very interested in her, creeping up from behind every time she landed. He would get close enough to touch and she would fly off a few centimetres. Once or twice he butted her hard enough for me to hear it! Several times he flew underneath her when she moved. After about 15 minutes she moved off several metres and he gave up and flew off in the other direction. Does anyone have any thoughts? Am I right that they are different species? Am I right that they are male and female? Taken today in central France on a rural track. Susan R Walter attached the following image:  [179.19Kb] Edited by Susan R Walter on 24-07-2010 21:42 Susan |
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| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 24-07-2010 21:42
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Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
Another view.
Susan R Walter attached the following image:  [174.28Kb] Susan |
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| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 24-07-2010 21:43
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Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
Third view.
Susan R Walter attached the following image:  [173.84Kb] Susan |
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| Cesa |
Posted on 25-07-2010 05:50
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 Member Location: Turkey Posts: 1276 Joined: 13.10.09 |
Apparently male and female. |
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| Susan R Walter |
Posted on 27-07-2010 16:51
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Member Location: Touraine du Sud, central France Posts: 1802 Joined: 14.01.06 |
But are they male and female of the same species? I didn't think Villa males were so small in relation to the females, and there are some small differences in the wing venation which made me think they might be different genera.
Susan |
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