Posted by Auke on 12-04-2016 03:02
#1
Hello All!
A month of touring the north of Suriname with almost every night collecting moths at my light installation has not only resulted in some very interesting lepidopterans but also in many hundreds of photos. Some of these are of Diptera, and I hope you can help with identifying those.
Here's number 1: a Culicidae (I assume) with amazing palps. Snesikondre, Sipaliwini, Suriname (northern South America).
Thanks in advance, Auke
Edited by Auke on 13-04-2016 00:45
Posted by Auke on 13-04-2016 00:43
#3
Thanks Tony! A quick search showed me that those huge palps are restricted to the males. Is their function known?
Posted by Tony Irwin on 13-04-2016 14:11
#4
As far as I know, the male palps have olfactory organs used for finding nectar sources. Their ornamentation suggests that they may have a function in mating as well, but I don't know what this might be.
Posted by Auke on 13-04-2016 15:37
#5
Okay, thanks again. Makes one wonder why their antennas are not used for sniffing nectar. Oh well, at least it makes them look cool.