Ant-mimicking Fly - ?sp.

Family Tephritidae  

This page contains pictures and information about Ant-mimicking Flies that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia

Body length 5mm

 

We found this fly mimics ants when moves. 

 

 

 

By just looking at those fly photos, you may not recognize how this fly mimics ants. When we first saw this fly, it was walking on a board leaf. When moving, it waved its wings alternatively. We thought we was watching a small group of ants moving prey or two ants running in Panic/alert mode.

 
 

We believe the mimic was target to fool the predator that hunt by visual, such as the jumping spider, lynx spider or small mantids. Most insects predators will avoid the panicking ants or ants with prey.

  

   

 

This fly is quite common in our backyard.

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Last updated: February 14, 2008.