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I am editing a small article on observations on the courtship behaviour of the Dolochopodid Poecilobothrus nobilitatus, for Natura, a Dutch journal directed to general audience of nature enthousiasts.
I would like to see some general information about the fly's life cycle included. Browsing the internet, I found out that what HAS been studied in this species and in Dolichopodidae in general is courtship behaviour. This is very conspiciuous and interesting in Dolichopodidae.

Now what strikes me is that Smith (1989) in his manual of Diptera larvae mentions that the larva of this conspicuous and widespread species is unknown!

Does anyone of you know whether this is still the case? Or have any other information about the biology of this species?
All help will be much appreciated!

Louis



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Below are links to some of the the prettiest pictures of this fly on the net, and an interesting article anbout courtship.

http://users.skynet.be/fotoopa/main_frames/macro_vliegen.htm

http://www.flickr.../36936166/

http://www.selimg...ilobothrus

http://beheco.oxf...l/14/4/526

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I have not seen descriptions of early stages for any Poecilobothrus. In general the early stages of dolies are absurdly poorly known :(

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Dear Louis,
Once I have seen BBC motion-picture shot about courtship behaviour of unnamed American Hercostomus sp. (my ID) close to Poecilobothrus. In fact this behaviour is easy to observe (I have seen it many times), but paper publications seem to be absent (ah!) .
Igor.
http://www.dolicho.narod.ru/photoHercostomusnobilitatus.html

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Dear Igor,

thank you for the link. Therre ARE interesting paper publications on courtship, see the last link in my first message .. well, this is it:

http://beheco.oxf...l/14/4/526.

But what about the larva?
Igor, from your website I guess that you may be the most authoritative person I could ask :).
Could you confirm that the larva of P. nobilitatis is still unknown? Where should we look for it? Is it aquatic?

Hope you can help me further!

Louis