Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Loving couple - Sarcophagidae?

Posted by Sundew on 11-10-2007 00:05
#1

Hi,
As long as the sun shines warm the flies make love. Which ones here? I already hear you say, "Sarcophagidae - no chance for ID!" However, except longing for a name I have another question:
Is the male bigger than the female? That's new to me! Or did they change positions, she is up and he is down? In any case, the upper one is trampling on the eyes of the lower, so I guess the lower is a tolerant girl... It is astonishing how fast they can fly around without losing the partner, it must be perfect coordination. Do they both use their wings, or is the lower just passively carried? I could not find out, they were too fast.
So who can tell more about fly weddings? I am looking forward to a good discussion,
Sundew

Posted by pierred on 11-10-2007 08:01
#2

hello,

I also have some pictures where the male puts its foretarsi on the eyes of the female (aka: don't look at the photograph, my dear !).

On the other hand, it seems me that it is the female which flies and the male which gets transported without doing anything.

Posted by Tony Irwin on 11-10-2007 18:31
#3

In Sarcophaga, the male is often (though not always) bigger than the female. As with many carrion-feeding and parasitoid flies, there is a great range of adult sizes within a species. I don't thnk the female is ever dominant (on top).

Posted by Sundew on 11-10-2007 18:33
#4

On the other hand, it seems me that it is the female which flies and the male which gets transported without doing anything.

Ha - when I read that I could become a feminist! The big male is carried by the small female WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING!! Male toads are also carried, but they are so pitiable small. My admiration for the little girl rises, as her flight with that fat backpack was so swift and elegant...
No objections to "unidentifiable Sarcophagidae taxon"? I like to get corrected!
Sundew

Posted by Sundew on 11-10-2007 18:38
#5

Tony, we posted our replies simultaneously. Can I take genus Sarcophaga for granted?
Sundew

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 11-10-2007 18:41
#6

i think this is Sarcophaga sp. Not possible to say more without checking genitalia. In this case, it is better to have the couple! It would turn more easy both. :)

Posted by Tony Irwin on 11-10-2007 21:41
#7

There are a few "look-alikes", but I'd say these are Sarcophaga.