Diptera.info

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 17-01-2016 16:15

Hi,

though it surely cannot be identified to species level, it would be interesting if H. bimaculata group can be confirmed at least.

It was hovering there at least for 4 minutes (almost without changing position), so I could only take pictures while flying (in fact only the fly did). Don't know what he was looking at (me?) or waiting for (me going away?).
It was the first Hybomitra I could observe and maybe it's no unusual behaviour?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Lennart

2015-07-15, Northern Germany, S-H, Mohrkirch, fallow land, above a gravel path

Edited by Lennart Bendixen on 17-01-2016 21:11

Posted by John Carr on 17-01-2016 17:09

Hovering is common behavior for male Hybomitra, or at least some common species in North America.

Swarming or hovering behavior is driven by visual cues, some obvious to humans and others not.

Some aquatic Chironomidae and Ceratopognidae look for a dark object on a white background (a rock on a beach, or an entomologist on a beach). Others swarm above the tallest tree, around a tree trunk, or beside a stream bank.

I have seen one Hybomitra hovering next to a 30 cm oak sapling, and another about 1 meter altitude in the middle of a wide trail. I read that Canadian Chrysops look for forest edges.

Posted by Zeegers on 17-01-2016 18:53

Hi Lennart,

This is an excellent photo of a male H. distinguenda !!
Not all European Hybomitra do hover, this behaviour is actually very specific.
Distinguenda is known as an excellent hover, but for instance bimaculata has never been seen hovering....

Please submit for the gallery.

Theo

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 17-01-2016 21:11

Fantastic! :)
I'll add the picture - many thanks for the determination, Theo.

John, these are interesting observations - I wish I knew more literature about dipteran ecology and esp. such mentioned behaviours.

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 17-01-2016 21:29

well, I tried to submit the picture to the gallery, but as I chose Tabanidae I landed on the home page. What went wrong?

Edited by Lennart Bendixen on 18-01-2016 08:24

Posted by Nikita Vikhrev on 18-01-2016 12:55

I tried to submit the picture to the gallery, but as I chose Tabanidae I landed on the home page

It is common, try once or twice again

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 18-01-2016 20:08

well, I tried more than 10 times and nothing happened, but I've informed Paul now.

Posted by Paul Beuk on 19-01-2016 09:37

Perhaps it was just too big? I have now added it using the admin tool (which circumvents any size limits).

Cheers!

Edited by Paul Beuk on 19-01-2016 09:37

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 19-01-2016 20:08

#10

Thank you, Paul! (size was 1000x664, 155 kb )

Edited by Lennart Bendixen on 19-01-2016 20:09