Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Very small asilids from Portugal

Posted by Eric Fisher on 17-08-2008 02:18
#2

Rui: Fantastic photos - and of great interest! The asilid is a species of Stichopogon which looks very much like the Mediterranean S. scaliger Loew. However, that sp. is not known from as far west as the Iberian Peninsula, so your fly is Stichopogon sp. for now (perhaps 'Dysmachus' will be able to identify it further). Asilids nearly always feed only on flying prey. An exception are those few genera which eat spiders: these flies usually catch sitting spiders - while the asilid hovers in front of the spider's web - although some are known to catch spiders on the ground or other substrates. This is the first observation I know about of an asilid feeding on a mite (Stichopogon are known to feed spiders on the ground). I emailed R.J. Lavigne - who is the expert on asild predatory behavior - and he may provide further info on this subject. The first two photos are of females, the one eating the mite is a male. Great work!

Regards, Eric