Don't you think it could be Metopia argyrocephala, with such a whitish beak?
Posted by Galeodes33 on 02-06-2010 09:33
#4
Yes, it does look like it.;)
Posted by Sundew on 02-06-2010 12:44
#5
No Metopia, wing venation is different (there must be a strong bend in the m vein in Sarcophagids), and the white part of the face ends below the males' frons that is also much broader in Metopia. Look at the good pic in the gallery (http://www.dipter...to_id=2197)!
Leucophora is ok.
Posted by Sandy on 02-06-2010 21:38
#6
Thanks all :)
So it's a "satellite" fly which parasitises the nest of solitary bees by following the female bee home. Very interesting!
Posted by Sundew on 03-06-2010 00:05
#7
Yeah, recently I watchend one following a bee. The bee dug herself in very quickly and disappeared before I could take a photo. She did so head foremost. Then came Leucophora and dug at exactly the same place, the bee still within and not visible. The fly dug abdomen tip foremost and disappeared only half in the sand. She was irritated by my presence, however, and I do not know whether she put an egg in the sand or not. Well, these solitary bees have a lot of cuckoos and parasites; it is surprising that nevertheless there are still many of them seen in each spring!
Regards, Sundew
Posted by Rui Andrade on 03-06-2010 00:51
#8
I have a video of this satellite behaviour. Not a very good one because they are very difficult to follow. YouTube Video
Posted by Sandy on 04-06-2010 08:09
#9
Thanks for that guys! Fascinating stuff and something to watch out for next time I'm out!
Are metopias also satellite flies? I photographed some of what I assume were metopias yesterday in a sandpit. There were also many solitary bees present but the flies were merely sunning, mating etc and I didn't see any bee-related behaviour.