The Society for the study of flies (Diptera)
Affiliated to the British Entomological and Natural History Society (BENHS)
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#1 2010-07-31 00:20:13
- Grahame Madge
- Registered user
- Name: Array Array
- Registered: 2010-07-31
- Posts: 1
Tephritis formosa behaviour
Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I'm hoping that someone can please tell me more about the behaviour of this fly (believed to be Tephritis formosa). The image is a screengrab from a video (viewable at the link below) that I shot last week. I'm assuming the behaviour has something to do with attracting a mate or establishing a territory.
I'm afraid I don't know a great deal about flies, but I'm developing an interest because they make relatively easy subjects for photography and video.
Cheers Grahame
http://moving-wildlife.blogspot.com/201 … world.html
Last edited by Grahame Madge (2010-07-31 00:22:27)
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#2 2010-08-10 19:47:33
- Judy Webb
- Committee
- Name: Judith Webb
- Registered: 2008-02-21
- Posts: 375
Re: Tephritis formosa behaviour
This does look like Tephritis formosa to me and you have captured the charming typical wing waving behaviour. I have watched lots of Tephritids doing this sort of thing and come to no firm conclusions. They seem to do it whether another fly is nearby or not, yet it must be a courtship display of some sort, presumably to better show off the different wing patterns. I have not been able to see if the wing waving is confined to one sex or whether both sexes do it. Lots of scope for discoveries on behaviour to be made at the bottom of your garden. We look forward to further fly videos!
Judy
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