Thread subject: Diptera.info :: A fly on a damsel?

Posted by orionmystery on 14-01-2011 11:37
#1

I was shooting this damselfly when I noticed something on its back. On closer examination, it looked like fly to me. The fly remained on the same spot on the damselfly even though after the damselfly took off and returned to the same perch.

Location: forest park in Selangor, Malaysia.

farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5351302069_6aaa53eee7_o.jpg

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 14-01-2011 12:33
#2

Yes, Ceratopogonidae bite Heliocypha

Posted by orionmystery on 14-01-2011 15:19
#3

Thanks Nikita.

Some info i found:

Abstract:
<p>The ceratopogonid genus <i>Forcipomyia</i> Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) contains species with a wide range of adult biologies. Species of the subgenus <i>Pterobosca</i> Macfie are phoretic and apparently parasitic on the wing veins of other insects, notably odonates and sometimes lacewings. We describe <i>F. (Pterobosca) debenhamae</i> from Brunei as new to science, taking the authorship of Cranston, tabulate the morphological diversity of the subgenus, and speculate on the phylogeny. The behaviour of adult female midges, which have been found only upon the thorax of hosts predominantly of <i>Libellago hyalina</i> (Odonata: Chlorocyphidae), appears to deleteriously impact on the quality and duration of territory holding of the host. The lack of any confirmation of host feeding leads us to speculate on the nature of the association.</p>

More here:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/tnah/1997/00000031/00000012/art00004

and this one:

http://biostor.org/reference/49428

Edited by orionmystery on 14-01-2011 15:24