Dance fly stabbed

welsh.lensman · #1 (**permalink**) 09-05-2011, 12:01 PM

This Dance fly was in for a surprise when it ambushed this potential meal, the prey wasn't going quietly and fought back with its own sting in the tail.

The sting about to enter

and then withdrawn.

Can anyone please ID the fly caught by the Dance fly.

Jason Green · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2011, 12:31 PM

Afternoon Wayne,

Fascinating image, it looks as though it punctured well. I doubt it did anything fatal though. As for the prey-item, there isn't nearly enough on show. It could be a Nematoceran, I can't think of too many groups that have such ovipositors.

Any other photographs?

Take care,

Jason

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2011, 01:11 PM

The praey appears to be something like Ptychoptera contaminata. None of these have stings, I think what you might be seeing in the first picture that looks like a thin black sting is actually part of a leg of the fly.

welsh.lensman · #4 (**permalink**) 09-05-2011, 04:05 PM

Thank you Jason for taking the time to reply, there are other photo's that may help with the ID.

Many thanks.

welsh.lensman · #5 (**permalink**) 09-05-2011, 04:28 PM

Many thanks Matt, I believe you could be right about what I had thought was the sting being part of the flies leg, I didn't even consider this when I saw the image but assumed the fly was trying to defend itself against the attacker.
In my defence I took the white on the sting in the second image to be the insides of the Dance fly, I now believe its excrement produced by the fly.