Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Small fly at spider prey: Milichiidae?

Posted by Juergen Peters on 26-06-2008 22:34
#1

Hello!

This only 1.5 mm long fly examined an Anisopodid midge caught in a spider web at our garden shed (northwest Germany) today. Is it a Milichiid? Thanks!

Posted by Juergen Peters on 26-06-2008 22:35
#2

Another view.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 26-06-2008 22:35
#3

Third picture.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 27-06-2008 09:25
#4

Microphor sp. You can see the antennae in the second image and that would not be that large in any of the Milichiidae. At least the genus Microphor of the Microphoridae (or rather Microphorinae as they have been shown to belong with the Dolichopodidae) are also seen near spider's webs and on preys, but not as often as Desmometopa.

Posted by Jan Willem on 27-06-2008 09:57
#5

Hi J?rgen,

You "Anisopodid midge" does look more like a dolichopodid to me.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 27-06-2008 11:44
#6

LoL, I did not even look at what J?rgen wrote about that one: It is Neurigona.

Posted by Juergen Peters on 27-06-2008 20:58
#7

Hello, Paul and Jan Willem!

Many thanks! Ups... I should have seen by the large genitalia, that the prey must be a male Neurigona ;) (they are also very frequent here at the moment...).

Paul Beuk wrote:
Microphor sp. You can see the antennae in the second image and that would not be that large in any of the Milichiidae.


Yes, I also noticed the long antennae, and that they were bigger than those of all Milichiidae in the gallery. But I didn't know if there were possibly other Milichiidae with such antennae...

At least the genus Microphor of the Microphoridae (or rather Microphorinae as they have been shown to belong with the Dolichopodidae) are also seen near spider's webs and on preys, but not as often as Desmometopa.


Very interesting, thanks!