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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Acalyptratae" » Carnoidea » Freeloader Flies (Milichiidae) » Madizinae » Desmometopa
Photo#1146712
Small flies eating a honeybee caught by a Praying Mantis - Desmometopa
Copyright © 2015 KenStites

Small flies eating a honeybee caught by a Praying Mantis - Desmometopa
Sacramento, Sacramento County, California, USA
September 19, 2015
This Praying Mantis had just caught a honeybee and was trying to eat it when a group of very small flies landed on the Praying Mantis’ head. This group of flies was actually eating food right out of the Praying Mantis’ mouth. I have not seen this behavior before.

I'm guessing these flies might belong to the Milichiidae family(Free-loader flies) and possibly the to the genus Desmometopa
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Contributed by KenStites on 28 September, 2015 - 9:19pm
Last updated 13 February, 2016 - 12:07pm

Moved
Moved from Freeloader Flies.
… John F. Carr, 13 February, 2016 - 12:07pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Stagmomantis limbata.
… John Stanard, 28 September, 2015 - 10:22pm login or register to post comments

Nice Shot, Ken
You've captured freeloader flies "freeloading" at a kill made by a Stagmomantis limbata.
… John Stanard, 28 September, 2015 - 10:15pm login or register to post comments

 
Freeloader flies
Hi John,

Thanks so much for both ID the freeloader flies as well as the Mantid ID.
… KenStites, 28 September, 2015 - 11:18pm login or register to post comments

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