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Who can help with hose little fellows, observed on the Great Mullein (Verbscum thapsus) on August 30 2007 in my garden in Heron (Belgium) ?
I'd say approx 6 mm.

Thanks
Philippe

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Lonchaeidae

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With all respect (and I could be wrong :| ), I would suggest Lauxanidae.

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Also with respect, I think Nikita is right. :P

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With respect too... I can't compete with two specialists :@

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So if those above are Lonchaeidae, these two are also Lonchaeidae.
Pictures made in Hessen, Germany, august 2005.

What could be the relationship with the Aphids? Coincidence?

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Picture 2 of same specimen.

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Hi Andre.
I often observer Lonchaeidae as excrements visitor (last time right here in Thailand). Why Aphid's nectar is worse than dung?
Nikita

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The first photo shows three Lonchaeidae ladies (Not fellows) who seem to be feeding on pollen grains from the Mullein - looks like they belong to the genus Lonchaea but can't identify any further than that from the photos. Not much is known about the feeding habits of adult Lonchaeidae, some do feed on pollen and honeydew, a few species are taken on flowers but the have also been taken in meat traps and apparently may steal meals from spiders webs!. presumably the relationship with aphids may just be related to the honeydew produced by them. Any further observations on excrement feeding would be useful. This is where the Diptera site is of so much value to us desk bound taxonomists !! ............ Iain

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Thanks Iain,
If you look closely, they seem to be feeding on areas of the buds which have been eroded (probably by another agent as they don't seem to be equipped to deal with the hairy epiderm) and where the plant tissues are raw and exsuding. V. thapsus is host to an amazing number of consumers of all kinds.
Philippe
PS I knew they were ladies, btw, just a language slip;)

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Here is one feeding on droppings of a bird.

Ben