Any ideas what this is?

[lauriek]

Here's a couple of pics of a small bug, I have absolutely no idea what it is. It looks a little like a tiny moth to the naked eye but these closeups suggest to me that it's a fly of some sort... Here's a shot showing most of it -



That looks like a haltare to me, which means diptera, is that correct?

Here's a portrait:



I'm not sure about the bit where the antennae overlap the eyes, I think that's a stacking glitch.

This is a small bug, the wings are about 2-3mm long... I had a hell of a job balancing this thing on a pin to photograph! I'm not entirely happy with the portrait, and the whole body shot was a very quick stack just for ID purposes, no attempts were made to make it aesthetically pleasing!

[rovebeetle]

You are right about Diptera. That's a moth fly (or drain fly) - family Psychodidae. They are related to black flies and mosquitos (in the wider sense), and they also sting and suck blood.

Cheers

[lauriek]

Many thanks Harry, not one I've heard of but I will have a google around!

[augusthouse]

That is one cool looking critter Laurie. Just looking at those wrap-around eyes, the grin and the 'goatie' tells you that this guy is not into nectar. Looks like an evil smurf.

Craig

[rovebeetle]

That is one cool looking critter Laurie. Just looking at those wrap-around eyes, the grin and the 'goatie' tells you that this guy is not into nectar. Looks like an evil smurf.

Craig

[lauriek]

Know what you mean - The Mrs said it looked like a Gremlin!

I'll try to do a better stack of this in the next couple of days but it's a tricky little sod, so small! Would probably be easier if I had a vertical rig like yours Craig, perhaps I should put him in the post to you!

[augusthouse]

Ahhh! That's just what he wants you to do! When he arrived he would stop pretending to be dead - I've heard about such things....

[augusthouse]

Here's an interesting approach. (brass strips)

http://photomacrography1.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4869

Craig