Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Do flies suicide?
Posted by picotverd on 29-03-2011 20:47
#1
A few days ago i found this fly still alive but pinned in a plant thorn... any idea?
Posted by picotverd on 29-03-2011 20:48
#2
When i pinned off the fly became dead...
Posted by ChrisR on 29-03-2011 20:48
#3
Maybe it had a tickle that it just couldn't scratch without a thorn ... and then it all went horribly wrong? :D
Posted by Graeme Cocks on 29-03-2011 21:06
#4
There is a bird in Australia, the Pied Butcherbird, that does this with birds it catches. Young from nests I think. But flies ...... ?
Posted by Stephane Lebrun on 29-03-2011 21:31
#5
European shrikes use to impale their preys (insects) on thorn like this.
Posted by Tony Irwin on 29-03-2011 22:01
#6
I think a shrike is unlikely to impale a
Pollenia without causing other damage. This is just an unlucky fly - perhaps caught in a gust of wind?
Posted by John Carr on 30-03-2011 02:26
#7
Last summer I saw a fly with its head caught in burdock.
Posted by Steve Crellin on 30-03-2011 12:18
#8
I've seen flies impaled on the tips of marram (Ammophila) and have presumed that they have been caught out by an untimely gust of wind.
Steve
Posted by blowave on 30-03-2011 15:51
#9
I haven't seen a fly impaled, but I saw a small fly which could have been Anthomyiidae or a Muscid floating on top of my water barrel in late 2009. It had a broken wing but I rescued it, placed it on the rim below the top which had water sitting in it. The fly climbed back onto the water so I left it! I had a feeling it knew it wouldn't survive so was committing suicide as it wouldn't be natural to be on water and it was cold. I had some pics but I deleted them recently.
Janet
Edited by blowave on 30-03-2011 15:52