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 Eristalis courtship
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| Nikita Vikhrev |
Posted on 16-07-2008 21:28
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 Member Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 9336 Joined: 24.05.05 |
Moscow region, 04 July. Courtship of Eristalis was observed. On the field 3 males followed 1 female. When female flied, males follow female. When female sat, all three males hovered over female: one 1-2cm above female, second 3-5cm, third ? about 10-15cm. It repeated several times. No one of males tried to mate female, it seems that males waited for for female agreement. Finally this group disappeared out, but without the most ?modest? male (the third one). Could you help me with species level ID, please? Nikita Vikhrev attached the following image:  [100.81Kb] Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University |
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| Stephane Lebrun |
Posted on 16-07-2008 22:16
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 Member Location: Le Havre, France Posts: 8248 Joined: 03.03.07 |
This is an Eristalis interrupta behaviour, as far as I know.
Stephane. |
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| conopid |
Posted on 16-07-2008 22:39
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 Member Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1039 Joined: 02.07.04 |
Hi Nikita, In the UK this would certainly be E interrupta (interruptus). I have watched the same behaviour for about two minutes, with no mating taking place. It is a wonderful show to watch 
Nigel Jones, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom |
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| Nikita Vikhrev |
Posted on 17-07-2008 20:11
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Member Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 9336 Joined: 24.05.05 |
Thank you Stephane and Nigel.
Nikita Vikhrev - Zool Museum of Moscow University |
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| Andre |
Posted on 17-07-2008 21:11
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 Member Location: Tilburg, the Netherlands Posts: 2111 Joined: 18.07.04 |
I agree. Also the very narrow black facial stripe tells it's interrupta (= nemorum). |
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