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2011-05-29. near Marburg, Hesse, Germany, found in the (near ground) vegetation on the edge of a forest.

Video: http://commons.wi...9-(07).ogv

Regards, Ingo

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Ok, here is a new (courtship) video of this species. Filmed also at the Wollenberg, Hesse, Germany (2011-06-02).

http://commons.wi...opula).ogv

Is it Platystoma seminationis?

Regards, Ingo

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No doubts, it is.
The most fascinating is that this is the firs documented observation on Platystoma courtship. The kissing female abdominal membrane has not been described for platystomatids. "Kissing" after mounting has been known for some Australian platys, but in any case, I was really impressed!

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Thanks for id. It is not a real unknown behaviour for Platystoma seminationis, please have a look at http://www.arthro...onis03.htm and http://www.naturb...hp?id=903– (sorry both in German language). However it may be the first film about its courtship.
Regards, Ingo

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Dear forum users,

when searching for a species` name of the couple on photo below, I noticed the fascinating video above in this thread here.
My courtship photo was taken on may, 23rd, 2011, garden, rhine valley, southwest germany, unfortunately against sunlight, as the couple was on lower side of leaf.
Did I get it right, that kissing identifies this Platystoma clearly as P. seminationis, or must it stay "Platystoma cf seminationis"? Thanks in advance for taking a look at this.

Best regards

Thorsten

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another view...

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According to "Checkliste der Dipteren Deutschlands" there are only two species present in Germany: P. seminationis and P. lugubre. So you should have a closer look to the supraalare: 4 = P.lugubre or 3 = P. seminationis (see Hennig, W. (1945): 48. Platystomatidae. - In: Lindner, E.; Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen Region.)
Regards, Ingo

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Fantastic videos! I have personally observed Rivellia "kissing" post mating however they did it facing each other and without much the 'fanfare' shown in the couple, though they were clearly enjoying wing waving interplay. I assumed at the time the male was exchanging regurgitate.

Tony (Tasmania)

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Hello, Ingo,

thank you very much for those helpful informations.
As my photos unfortunately are too bad to show any bristles, this couple cannot be identified clearly.

But about one hour before the couple, I took a picture of a Platystoma on Frangula alnus. Here is a strongly treated detail, which shows three bristles in line on side of thorax, maybe you meant these (?)

Best regards, Thorsten