Posted by Amir on 09-04-2009 19:47
#1
Hi
A few weeks ago I photo a Physiphora alceae carry hitchhiking pseudoscorpiones
I making a short article for my blog about this case. Phoresis is an interesting phenomenon.
Unsurprising the investigation for the article show up more questions then answers. More interesting is the question if Physiphora alceae is a preferred host for those pseudoscorpiones (CHELIFERINEA ?) ?
Since I found 2 other cases with photo of
P.alceae carry pseudoscorpiones
http://www.galeri...orpion.jpg
http://www.galeri...-22968.htm
appreciate any information u have regarding this question and about the biology of P.alceae
More photos
http://albums.tim...jpg?time=0
An ant (Cataglyphis niger) attacking the fly. later kill him and take him to the nest
http://albums.tim...jpg?time=0
One of the pseudoscorpion still hold the fly leg after the attack
http://albums.tim...jpg?time=0
Edited by Amir on 09-04-2009 19:48
Posted by Xespok on 09-04-2009 20:19
#2
P. alcae prefers to spend much of their time in compost and other decaying organic materail. Some of the Pseudoscopions like the same environment. They use the fly to move from one compost heap to another. Moving around compost heaps is difficult without wings. Normally only there is one hitchhiker. If there are too many the fly starts to get problems with moving around. It becomes an easy prey for ants. That is my view of this story.