Please identify beetle/fly thing

HAJiME · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 08:18 AM

I went downstairs this morning and saw what i assumed would be just a common beetle wriggling on its back. So i scooped it up on a tissue to take it outside, but when i got in the light i noticed it's head filling up like a balloon! It was pulsing it! I qas quite intimidated, it was a good defence! lol

So i hurried it outside and put it on the ground so i could see the top of it. It looked more like a fly. The body shape, the head shape, the way it stood. It had no obvious wings (well it was a bit like the wings on a dragonfly nymph if that makes sense?) and it ran in a classic clumby beetle gate.

It fell on it's back again and secreted a droplet of white stuff from it's abdomen, continuing to expand and deflate it's entire head like a balloon.

It was the weirdest thing i've ever seen.

So does anyoen know or a fly or beetle or somthing that meets this description?? There can't be many creatures who do!

bugbotherer · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 05:19 PM

Many flies inflate their heads to break out of the pupal case and then pull it all back together before the exoskeleton hardens. Not considered it as a defence mechanism before

HAJiME · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 10:20 PM

Well it was definately a newly hatched fly then, with tiny crumpled wings.

And now im worried. Why was it in my house? Surely it must have hatched in my house? I feel rather sick.

bugbotherer · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAJiME

Well it was definately a newly hatched fly then, with tiny crumpled wings.

And now im worried. Why was it in my house? Surely it must have hatched in my house? I feel rather sick.

In quick reply mode
Its warm and low on predators
Yes
Sit down, control the breathing, don't worry even the Queen has flies in the Palace