Thread subject: Diptera.info :: resin-flies

Posted by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:02
#1

hi flyforum,

On some conifer there were little flies active on the resin of the bark.
I try to understand the flies but it was not my language..

they were waving with there wings, it looks like a ritual..
than, suddenly they got contact with there legs.., touching each other :p

any idea what kind of flies these are? and what agreement is this?
are they selling resin?

greeting, Robert

Edited by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:09

Posted by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:03
#2

shaking hands.. or fight?
on this size, I can not see the difference..

Edited by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:05

Posted by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:06
#3

close up of one of these flies..

Edited by Robert Heemskerk on 03-07-2006 00:07

Posted by Tony Irwin on 03-07-2006 00:56
#4

These are Phalacrotophora (Phoridae). I also have some photos of these flies displaying on tree-trunks. I'll post the photos when I've identified the species.
Tony

Posted by Paul Beuk on 03-07-2006 08:45
#5

They are indeed Phalacrotophora and they have nothing with resin except that they use bumps on trees for mating display. The females oviposit on fresh pupae of Coccinellidae and the larvae feed on the pupa. More than one specimen can emerge from a pupa and I have once even reared two different species from a single pupa. Also see downloads HERE.

Posted by Mario Langourov on 03-07-2006 09:53
#6

That's right! These are two females of Phalacrotophora sp.; I have some indications that one of the European species (Ph. pictofasciata) develops on Cerambycidae-larvae

Edited by Mario Langourov on 03-07-2006 17:30