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Photo#438833
what just happened??

what just happened??
Great Brook Farm State Park, Carlisle, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
July 25, 2010
OK. So I was watching this log that was half submerged underwater in a pond. There seemed to be a swarm of what I think are longlegged flies on this log. Then, out of a small crevice, I see this red larva thing crawl out of the log. It sits there for a few seconds, then one fly comes over and starts dragging it away. I turn my head for one second and they are both gone. But I caught it all on camera. I'm putting this in ID request because I don't know whether this would be for the larva or the fly, and I'd like to know what just happened!

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what just happened?? what just happened?? - Dolichopus what just happened?? - Dolichopus what just happened?? - Dolichopus

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

As to "What just happened?"...
I guess these flies just like to chow down on Chironomidae at all stages of their lives.
Here's a picture I took of a Longlegged fly feeding on an adult Midge:

By the way (not an expert ID by any means but...) I think your fly may be Dolichopus

Bloodworm
A Chironomidae larva. The presence of hemoglobin gives it the red color. I have no idea about the fly.

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