Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Action shot

Posted by Philippe moniotte on 12-12-2007 09:47
#1

Hello everyone,
This is a poor picture, but it has the merit of Action.
When I first viewed it some years ago, I thought " a bug (Nabidae) eating a chironomid" and left it at that. Revisiting it during the long winter evenings, I see it was frankly foolish : it's a fly eating a fly of course, hence it belongs to this forum. My only excuse was the enlarged median femur of the predator.
Can anyone comment about the predator's family - or more ?
Size is small - witness the prey which was a typical chironomid (I think)
Heron (Belgium) July 6th 2004.

TIA
Philippe

Edited by Philippe moniotte on 12-12-2007 10:36

Posted by Kahis on 12-12-2007 10:07
#2

The happy killer fly is a Platypalpus (Hybitidae).

Posted by Paul Beuk on 12-12-2007 11:53
#3

*Hybotidae. Taking on a chironomid. I hope its stomach can handle that much chironomid. :D

Posted by Philippe moniotte on 12-12-2007 12:45
#4

Well, it was quite swollen already, anyway! :D
Philippe

Posted by Paul Beuk on 12-12-2007 14:02
#5

That was probably due to a large amount of eggs. Energy will need to be replenished after these are deposited. ;)