Small-headed flies mating - Eulonchus tristis

More Photos

I have posted more photos and some cropped close ups in my photo pages.

BTW, the leaf in question is salmonberry, Rubus spectabilis.

Thanks everyone for your help and kind comments.

… Stephen Hart, 8 March, 2008 - 6:20pm

indeed awesome pics!

… Martin Hauser, 6 March, 2008 - 5:39pm

Easily

One of the best shots so far this year.

… Herschel Raney, 6 March, 2008 - 11:38am

Wow

this is a really great shot, Stephen!

… Lynette Schimming, 6 March, 2008 - 9:03am

Moved

Moved from Eulonchus.

… john and jane balaban, 5 March, 2008 - 7:15pm

Amazing.

Beautiful image of a pair of small-headed flies. Not uncommon up there in the Pacific Northwest, but rarely photographed. They are parasites of spiders. Moving to genus page.

… Eric R. Eaton, 5 March, 2008 - 4:56pm

Small-headed fly ID

Wow, Eric. I hadn't even finished posting a few photos before it was identified.
Thank you.

… Stephen Hart, 5 March, 2008 - 5:09pm

From the color of the legs an

From the color of the legs and the lack of a strong margin to the squamae I would place this one in Eulonchus tristis. It is one of the more common species from the Pacific Northwest.

… Dennis Haines, 5 March, 2008 - 5:17pm

"lack of a strong margin to t

"lack of a strong margin to the squamae"

Would it be any help to see some tight crops of the wing bases?

… Stephen Hart, 5 March, 2008 - 7:53pm

No, the pictures are sufficie

No, the pictures are sufficient to see the color of the squamal margin. Everything is consistent with E. tristis. It is amazing that they sat there so patiently while you manipulated the leaf and took your pictures. They are usually very strong fliers and quickly fly away when bothered.

… Dennis Haines, 6 March, 2008 - 12:54pm