Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Chironoma ?

Posted by Dimitri Geystor on 04-03-2006 12:42
#1

Hello,

In a ray of sun, on a blackberry leaf, these tiny flies were pretty active in what seemed to be courtship chasing.
In the following pictures, could this be female and male of the same Chironoma species ?

www.macroscopies.com/exemples/chironome1.jpg
and
www.macroscopies.com/exemples/chironome2.jpg

Thanks,

Dimitri

Posted by Paul Beuk on 04-03-2006 14:33
#2

Both are males, but the top one is Sciaridae and the bottom one is Chironomidae.

Posted by Dimitri Geystor on 04-03-2006 14:58
#3

Thanks Paul,

So what was all the excitment about ? Waiting for the females to come out ?
I also had a glimpse of a mating couple, but they wouldn't stay still. You know what it is like to take a macro ...
As the proverb goes : "Time flies ... You can't, they go too fast !" :D

Posted by Paul Beuk on 04-03-2006 17:03
#4

Maybe both were trying to get the best spot for some sunlight. :)
And, you often see that males are emerging somewhat earlier than females, but it is also possible that males stay in one place, females in another and either goes looking for the other to mate.