Posted by pierred on 15-06-2006 06:43
#1
Hello,
I observed yesterday in Paris this little yellow fly (4-5mm) which was sucking honeydew dropped by aphids. To go from one leaf to the other, it didn't fly, but
jumped.
Any idea about the genus?
Thanks in advance.
Posted by Paul Beuk on 15-06-2006 07:46
#2
It is a member of the Lauxaniidae, most likely
Meiosimyza (=
Lyciella). could well be
M. platycephala.
Many lauxaniids seem to prefer to walk and jump-fly rather than really fly. Possibly because many can be found among folliage. jumping there will often give another place to sit without much flying and in this way you can conserve energy (think with a human mind, of course).
Posted by pierred on 15-06-2006 20:07
#3
Paul,
Thanks for the ID and for the idea behind the jumping. It's makes sense. Since I just continued to keep the finder on the shutter switch, I got this series.