Posted by morfa on 09-06-2010 19:16
#1
Stockholm, Sweden | June 2010
Microdon right? Is it possible to tell which species it is from these shots?
Cheers!
/John
Posted by caliprobola on 09-06-2010 20:38
#2
It is Microdon. Impossible to tell what species. It looks like Microdon analis/major to me, but these 2 species can only be seperated by larval features. It would help if you know if there was an ant's nest in the neighbourhood and what species of ant it was. Microdon analis (the most common species in Belgium...) larvae live in nests in rotten wood of Lasius species. Microdon major larvae live in nests in wood of Formica sanguinea. Probably there was an ant's nest nearby, as this is a female because females normaly don't get the chance of leaving the neighbourhood of the nest they emerge from before being "taken" by males in copula :).
grtz
Pieter
Edited by caliprobola on 09-06-2010 20:39
Posted by morfa on 09-06-2010 20:54
#3
Many thanks Pieter!
When I return to the location I will have a closer look to see if I find an ants nest nearby. These guys seem to show up everywhere I go now! The last couple of days I must have seen hundreds of them in many different locations within a 5km radius.
I collected two specimens and they immediately began copulating in the small vial I placed them in so I presume they were a couple.
If there are any external characteristics to look for in the adults – let me know and I'll see if I can get a shot of it!
Edited by morfa on 09-06-2010 20:55