Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Spider, bee and many little flies

Posted by Nikolay Borysenko on 11-06-2012 11:49
#1
8.06.2012 near the forest was spider Misumena vatia, that caught the bee. On that bee was many little flies.
Can you help me to answer the questions? What is name of them and what did them do on the bee?

lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6QCjimmwktc/T9XJT_lPn6I/AAAAAAAAAFo/Lb4O3QLJxZw/s640/IMG_2878.jpg

lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bU5BiNfvyfY/T9XJ3qeUQCI/AAAAAAAAAF0/LHyQjph5foQ/s640/fly-8%252C06%252C12.jpg

Posted by Roger Thomason on 11-06-2012 13:05
#2
Milichiidae; Desmometopa sp.?

Posted by Paul Beuk on 11-06-2012 16:05
#3
At one time I would have said "Yes, Desmometopa." Since last year I know that other milichiid species may show the same behaviour, for example Phyllomyza and Neophyllomyza. The detailed image above probably is Desmometopa, but I cannot guarantee that the first image does not show another species among what probably are at least mostly Desmometopa.
Edited by Paul Beuk on 11-06-2012 16:06

Posted by Sundew on 11-06-2012 16:57
#4
Nikolay asked what the flies are doing on the bee. They are kleptoparasites and steal some of the bee's "blood" (see http://www.trekna...137285.htm).

Posted by Nikolay Borysenko on 11-06-2012 18:55
#5
Roger Thomason, Paul Beuk, and Sundew, thank you very much!