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...
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| A single Dolichopus |
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| Two males court one female (on the left) |
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| One male is driven off, the other courts the female by standing on long legs over her and rapidly beating his wings. |
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| He tried to mate but was rebuffed (he would dart behind her, but she moved away and turned round), so back to the courting. |
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| This time his efforts were sufficient and the female permits mating. |
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| Female post-mating. |
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| Male post-mating - the large structure bent down from the rear of the abdomen is his genitalia. |
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| Male post-mating. |
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