What are these and what occuring

[Lesinlondon]

Hi, I came across these two insects today. I thought they were empty husks and there was no movement as I got closer. It looks as though they are mating but I'm sure thats not the case, also aren't they both female?



Eventually the one on top flew off a short distance and both kept the same body position.





I wondered what they are and what was happening, especially if they are both female. Thanks for any suggestions. Les.

[Matt Smith]

Looks like a mating pair of Physocephala rufipes - why do you think they are both female?

[Anomalous]

Hi

Certainly conopid flies, but look more like Sicus ferrugineus to me.

Ian

[Lesinlondon]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

Looks like a mating pair of Physocephala rufipes - why do you think they are both female?

Thanks Matt. Females, well because of the distance between the eyes. Or both males because of the mating body positions. Just thoughts going round my head that I knew were likely off mark, they likely to be a male/female pair.

Thanks Ian and Matt for the suggestions, I'll follow both up.

Les.

[JRsbugs]

It is Sicus ferrugineus.

In copulation

Janet

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Lesinlondon

Thanks Matt. Females, well because of the distance between the eyes.

The flies are indeed Sicus, sometime the fingers do not type that the brain in thinking.

'Eyes touching - male, eyes far apart - female' is a charactaristic that works for (most) hoverflies but is not really generally applicable to flies as a whole, in Tachinids for example males and females are very similar, one has to look at the bristle arrangement on the head to try to decide a sex in some cases.

[Lesinlondon]

Thank all.