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| MECOPTERA (Australian Scorpion Flies) |
0041:
Scorpion Flies mating Harpobittacus similis Perth, WA |
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| Scorpionflies
comprise a small Order of predatory wasp-like insects with some special
and unexpected habits. Adult males will attampt to lure a mature female
to mate with by first catching a prey item such as a bee and then
hanging around dangling the enticing food item for females to inspect
as they fly along a popular flyway. When a female stops to take a
feed the male mates with her as she eats. But sometimes things go
astray when a male, pretending to be a female, comes along and begins
to feed and whilst the hopeful male futilely attempts copulation the
impostor gains a good grip on the prey and in a sudden blur of wings
disappears down the track only to set himself up as an effective hunter
with all the necessary feminine enticements. Does this story sound
familiar? 1 more species available in the collection |
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