Dances with an*ts - Leucopis

Moved

… Hartmut Wisch, 18 December, 2006 - 11:46am

That was quick!

Easy, too. Thanks, Hartmut.

… Ron Hemberger, 18 December, 2006 - 12:20pm

Could be a Chamaemyiidae. The

Could be a Chamaemyiidae. They are looking for aphids and scale insects which are guarded by ants, that might be the reason why this little fly is not afraid of them... it is used to run away from ants...

… Martin Hauser, 16 December, 2006 - 7:11pm

Right. Family Chamaemyiidae.

Right. Family Chamaemyiidae. Genus Leucopis. Unfortunately, not identifiable to species from a photo (not many species of this genus are). And Martin was right, these flies are often laying eggs into ant-tended aphid colonies, and they are very adept at avoiding the ants.

… Steve Gaimari, 17 December, 2006 - 10:52pm

Wow! Genus from a not-so-hot photo.

Thanks, Steve. Certainly an interesting little fly. There was a reference to Leucopis in one of my earlier posts, relating to the rather complex little environment that includes cochineal insects, wasps, and ladybird beetles on cacti. I've been keeping my eyes open for such flies on prickly pears; now I have a better idea of what to look for.

As you may have gathered, flies are my favorite subjects, and it's great to see more good people working on identities. Maybe we'll nail down all those cryptic bee flies and syrphids yet!

… Ron Hemberger, 18 December, 2006 - 9:54am

I posted similar one

Hello, Ron, do u think they are same?

… daike tian, 12 August, 2008 - 11:27am

Can't seem to find it, Daike

Can you give me a link or a Bug Guide page number? I'll try to help, but don't really remember this particular fly.

… Ron Hemberger, 12 August, 2008 - 6:10pm

not that genus

somebody said.
But you can go for checking.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/213001
thanks.

… daike tian, 12 August, 2008 - 9:44pm

I would have thought it was different.

Shape of the wings and they way they're held. Or is that you?

Matthias Buck and Martin Hauser are among our top fly experts. Check their biographies by clicking on their names when they comment on a post.

… Ron Hemberger, 13 August, 2008 - 12:20am

Interesting info

Thanks, Martin.

… Ron Hemberger, 17 December, 2006 - 12:09am