After holidays, after the backlog of work I returned to... it's time for flies - in particular the genus
Dolichopus in the family Dolichopodidae (long-legged flies). As well as long legs, most male 'dolis' have very large genitalia, but a post title focusing on that feature might reach the wrong audience... Anyhow, I was watching what I think is
D. popularis (there are several similar species in the genus) when I noticed courtship behaviour - so, out came the camera to document a romantic photo-story...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmn-WicS5VfEp6g2DZV14Mi9pBeZpxKHhHxElKxtVccarTBECHI2v3QLCmpbl6JkIFH0KdFGS35aphcsGZz7ToIwauysRs0jMeZpN5qTCXz9oO_zSQfKZk5tp2yyNkEbP5vkM0gDDqrk70/s1600/P1120941.JPG) |
A single Dolichopus |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp77FGtGxRrJWIalnNCI1qDyYobsAa32hBuSASyc_oPltvfMZ785TzeN2j7IFGyDjxp-x-ZUmZYsbRvv7noWSMjzYK_Y446Lhc4YMXY4_NWRdLHRjEqKIrLjmCGF123SWztaHB0ju4xC3/s1600/P1120948.JPG) |
Two males court one female (on the left) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSIikFq_MZuI7os1IQrPGBfuiB74Soj3PHwhbi_ga1C0ABI913xOvra-TYdAtIYWmuAhvAMA_f_r1Jf55-tmJCgxa900Qrn2yUASoYXtUIcETI0byXPmLN-paAabJqsVX9Q6mLKlKgMwgy/s1600/P1120949.JPG) |
One male is driven off, the other courts the female by standing on long legs over her and rapidly beating his wings. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZZcL5O29jVwAbuqDCICsDnU3YK2CiEDeaz0LSsYkYicVxnmxbZxe5fkDRJn6W_VdsaM6h_sx2pWFdXUvU31cgJ2iASu5sphNaiQ0JbFVbsH5vPZglWoq3sh6vuSb34ele-udulBCh0Pi/s1600/P1120953.JPG) |
He tried to mate but was rebuffed (he would dart behind her, but she moved away and turned round), so back to the courting. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZ9VWc66VG8lSAhxvMGCrjbxPHSFo9sNneT5ozq0eRnMeVETK6ML0-elp5OHRlX1yhEkH7D6BMAcWydZjiqFnwPMA04UsoPlB8UGckG45VbgfcH46616Y4nxE9NtuufvI9Ri3tmtw_L4v/s1600/P1120954.JPG) |
This time his efforts were sufficient and the female permits mating. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyuorRETPt-oAJyxOboHK6nfWefuruhGSAtB47eO5K28pKPB0z2VuSguT19lL2ApDmqyfO4EFkDC5mH177hYJyW5gN0p8UdItDgeVLO4s39uANeeUJ_N3PLTCIXCtdyNKCmDBO-8X7eUj/s1600/P1120955.JPG) |
Female post-mating. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWcKkPUqJYqolQOnR_IaDWgRl-85IfyoJhbPld3TqpVikDdN8PFm2p1sMhmWnQYj_RFVG53vNsb3g-kvCnqfBl77wjbwCre1GUkYTUwQHkdkNNKs_LG3wZPMF9Hbj0LUW72ZqGqkwKT4T/s1600/P1120960.JPG) |
Male post-mating - the large structure bent down from the rear of the abdomen is his genitalia. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wGogwP1vyuS4WxDJHpFlksK_lhyphenhyphenCWs6kZ7i-UN1hklHp1bjceQ6Uv5USeDYnutL4Enuis3JBGsBA7abOaSsmp6IGmEN9XigsxbLm00NVV553fKTB9IOuvvKPaLTin-Ox_BG9cCxv0Jwu/s1600/P1120959.JPG) |
Male post-mating. |
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