Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Ver long legged mosquito like fly?
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 04-04-2009 21:27
#1
The body was about 10mm but each leg was longer than that. Pictured in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The insect seems to float in air, I am not sure what it holds on to.
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 04-04-2009 21:33
#2
Zoomed in
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 04-04-2009 21:35
#3
Alt view
Posted by pwalter on 04-04-2009 23:34
#4
Limoniidae male. Hi!
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 05-04-2009 06:20
#5
Hi pwalter.
Thanks for the id. Possible to get a genus?
Any idea how it hangs in air?
Posted by Tony Irwin on 05-04-2009 18:03
#6
Limoniidae and other Nematocera regularly hang on to spiders' webs. I think there are some fine silk threads providing the suspension here! It's a great way of avoiding ants and other terrestrial predators, and providing the fly keeps very still, the spider won't know it's there!
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 05-04-2009 21:05
#7
Wow. Great survival mechanism. Don't they stick to the web though?
Thanks Tony.
Posted by Tony Irwin on 05-04-2009 23:47
#8
Seems not. They may choose where to hang on very carefully (only certain bits of the web have sticky drops), or may have some non-stick wax on their feet.
Posted by Muhammad Mahdi on 06-04-2009 05:11
#9
ok, Thanks :)
Posted by Dmitry Gavryushin on 17-03-2016 13:17
#10
Atypophthalmus sp.