Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Dolichopodidae (1) - the earthworm battle
Posted by Sundew on 30-06-2014 00:14
#1
Hi,
Some weeks ago I watched a lot of Dolis, belonging to different taxa, on a wet forest track in southern Brandenburg. I was surprised that some of them hunted small earthworms. Though the worm finally made its escape, parts of it were bitten off by the flies. I read that Dolis prey on Enchytraeids (
http://www.zfmk.d...0H12S5.PDF) but did not find any information about Lumbricids as prey. Can the flies be identified? I hope all the pictures show the same species, as there were so many flies around. Many thanks for help,
Sundew
Posted by Sundew on 30-06-2014 00:15
#2
Here the worm faces a double attack:
Posted by Sundew on 30-06-2014 00:16
#3
The hunter in detail:
Posted by ValerioW on 30-06-2014 00:23
#4
Dolichopus sp. Wow, first class predators! Never thought they could prey on such a big animal!
Posted by John Carr on 30-06-2014 03:03
#5
Probably
Dolichopus ungulatus.
Posted by Igor Grichanov on 30-06-2014 09:48
#6
Dolichopus ungulatus except for the last 2 shots with different
Dolichopus sp.
Posted by Sundew on 30-06-2014 13:15
#7
Late, but not too late, I found Igor's Dolichopodidae key (
http://www.dipter...Europe.pdf) and hope to get more autonomous using this great tool. Now I see that the worm-battling females have black lower postocular ciliae (leading to
D. ungulatus), while the last series shows an animal with pale postocular ciliae (all three pics are the same individual). I tried the key and followed the path
1. mid basitarsus with at least one dorsal seta,
2. lower calypter with black ciliae,
3. antenna mostly brown black; at most scape yellow beneath,
4. both bends of M1+2 smoothly rounded and weakly formed.
Thus I arrived at
D. trivialis.
Did I check the right characters, and do you agree with my ID? Thanks for any help in learning - the Dolis are such great flies, I am bound to reveal their secrets to myself!
Regards, Sundew
Posted by Sundew on 01-07-2014 09:12
#8
A confirmation or correction would be fine...
Posted by Marc Pollet on 26-11-2023 13:01
#9
Sundew wrote:
Hi,
Some weeks ago I watched a lot of Dolis, belonging to different taxa, on a wet forest track in southern Brandenburg. I was surprised that some of them hunted small earthworms. Though the worm finally made its escape, parts of it were bitten off by the flies. I read that Dolis prey on Enchytraeids (
http://www.zfmk.d...0H12S5.PDF) but did not find any information about Lumbricids as prey. Can the flies be identified? I hope all the pictures show the same species, as there were so many flies around. Many thanks for help,
Sundew
Posted by Marc Pollet on 26-11-2023 13:02
#10
Dear Sundew,
The attacking dolichopodids belong to Dolichopus ungulatus. Truly exciting observation that is not truly surprising to me. I have seen doli larvae attacking lumbricids as well.
Cheers,
Marc
Posted by Marc Pollet on 26-11-2023 13:05
#11
Dear Sundew,
The multiple specimens attacking the earthworm belong to D. ungulatus, but the single specimen you refer to as "the hunter" is another Dolichopus, D. trivialis as you found out yourself. Cheers, Marc (mpollet.doli@gmail.com - I add my email address as I do not often visit this forum, you see. I should visit it more, I know).