---

I found these Thaumatomyia notata last summer. They were present in large (50+) numbers on this tree (not sure which species), which had a lot of (sawfly?)larvae on it.

When one of the larve got attacked by a shieldbug, they all swarmed on it. Are these flies are enjoying the predigested contents of the larva, that ooze through stigmata etc resulting from The bug (Arma custos) injecting digesting enzymes into its prey? (This was suggested bu someone on my Flickr.)

1: The larvae


2: The bug and the flies


3: CLose-up of the flies swarming on the larvae