---

Hello flyforum,

Also in the polder, next to a road in a little pool.
This time a mother with it's little child on the back.., showing the world :D

These flies looks different to my other 'Dolichopodidae'-topic.
Much lighter, whitish, grey and silver.
Is this also Dolichopodidae?

Robert Heemskerk,

---

two

---

Sure Dolichopodidae.
For me couple looks Hydrophorus sp.
Nikita

---

hi Nikita,

thank you very much for your reaction.
It isn't the specie yet, but at this time I am glad to hear the sub-family.
I was surprised about the size of the Dolichopodidae-family!
That is a lot of different dolichopidae-flies!!


robert heemskerk,

---

This image shows an interesting behave of the male rides on the female. Just wonder if this is a Precopulatory or Postcopulatory behave in Dolichopodidae?

---

The only paper I know about on the topic of guarding in Dolichopodidae is

Dyte, C.E. 1988. Mate guarding and sex ratio in Hydrophorus oceanus (Macquart) (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). The Entomologist 107: 122-126.

Guarding is very common in Hydrophorus praecox, a common species on coastal sands. I have severl pairs in my collection that are still locked in the 'embrace'. The female can fly with a male hanging on but the flight is clearly slower than normal and the pairs are easier to catch than single flies. I do not know if it is pre- or postcopulatiroy, that would be a nice little study for someone.

---

Thanks Kahis for the info on mate guarding behave on Dolichopodidae.

Both Pre- and Post-copulatory mate gurading are common among limonid crane flies, especiall those that females lay their eggs in wet habitats.

Here is an example of Eriopter cana doing it, which is a post- guarding . Species of Antocha is known for their pre- guardings.