Thread subject: Diptera.info :: unknown predator on Rhagium spec.->Forcipomyia

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:48
#1

Last year (09.09.2020) I found under bark of a dead silver fir in an empty place of a Rhagium larva a group of small larvae. Seemed they had killed the Rhagium.
A few meters beside that on the same log I found a group of pupae, obviously of the same species. Notably all oriented together around a middle.
I tried to breed them, but all of them were parasitized (Chalcidoidea ?).
I think, it's a fascinating story for me, and I'd like to understand what happened.
Can anybody identify this ? I think they should be diptera ...
I will attach a few pictures.

Thank you,

Jörg Brucklacher

Edited by Joerg Brucklacher on 08-04-2021 13:12

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:51
#2

pupae

Edited by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:54

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:54
#3

closeup1

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:55
#4

closeup2

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:56
#5

closeup3

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 15:57
#6

parasitoid

Posted by eklans on 07-04-2021 15:58
#7

Hi Jörg, I think these are larvae and pupae of Forcipomyia (Ceratopogonidae).

Greetings, Eric

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 07-04-2021 16:46
#8

fits perfect - found this page : https://www.chaosofdelight.org/forcipomyia with a lot of information and photos.

Thank you für this hint !

Jörg

Posted by atylotus on 07-04-2021 17:05
#9

Forcipomyia for sure

Posted by Joerg Brucklacher on 08-04-2021 12:00
#10

were they killing the Rhagium or just cleaning up the mess ?