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Satellite fly
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Philippe Moniotte (pgmoni)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 342 W: 95 N: 610]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (2556) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-06-07 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Nikon D 80, Nikkor 105mm f2.8D micro |
| Exposure: f/19, 1/250 seconds |
| Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-09-11 4:14 |
| Viewed: 645 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Those small (less than 5 mm) flies in the family Sarcophagidae, subfamily miltogramminae, are rather unremarkable. Except for their fascinating behavior and biology.
The females wait patiently in the vicinity of some solitary wasp burrow.
When the wasp comes home with a prey for its larvae, the little fly takes off and flies steadily just behind the wasp, waiting for the right moment to lay an egg on the prey, which is clasped between the wasp's legs. There is only one fraction of a second to do that, it is the exact moment when the wasp enters the burrow ! The satellite fly never enters it.
Once the egg is laid on the prey, the fate of the future wasp larva is sealed : the fly's egg will hatch quickly, the young maggot will first devour the wasp's egg and then start eating the stored prey(s).
The strangest part of the sory is perhaps that, more often than not, the wasp hunts and kills flies as its prey (that's depending on the exact wasp species) and yet it will not interfere with the satellite fly which sits there very visibly and spells death for the wasp's progeny... |
anel, eliz has marked this note useful
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- eliz
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 167 W: 22 N: 269]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(1535) - [2008-09-18 8:51]
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i like the rainbow reflection on the fly wings
