Diptera.info

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 01-01-2008 14:31

Pattaya, Jomtien.
My first flies 2008. It is usual habbit of Chrysomya megacephala to gather this way on some branch near rotten substrate

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 01-01-2008 15:38

wow! amazing!!! did you photoshop that? :P impressive swarm of Chrysomyia! Lukc you in Thailand! :p

Posted by Susan R Walter on 08-01-2008 14:34

Nikita

Is it just megacephala that gather and lurk like this, or do other Chrysomya do it too? I've seen gatherings like this in Central Australia, of metallic green flies that I assumed were Chrysomya, on twigs and grass stalks by dung (horse) or a carcass (snake) but do not know what species and didn't have a good enough camera to get a photo at the time.

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 08-01-2008 15:15

At my observations it is typical for any Chrysomya, but for bright enough illustration we need a common species like Ch.megacephala or Ch.albiceps.
It may be also intra-species conglomeration as in:
http://www.diptera.info/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=5&thread_id=5057
2 - Ch.albiceps, 1 - Ch.megacephala
I think that idea of such a gathering is: after laying egg(s) or larva(e) fameles wait for another eggs maturing, males wait to copulate with females. Why the hell should they to fly out?
Nikita

Posted by Zeegers on 08-01-2008 16:06

Chrysomyia megacephala is, in my experience, strongly attracted to stinky (in their opinion: nice smelling) odours. It could also have to do with honeydew, but I don't see any signs of feeding, so that seems less likely.

Theo