Another 'double fly' scenario.

[puzzledpaul]

Came upon this happy scenario whilst messing around (again) with the cardboard flash diverter / splitter as described in linked thread.



10D + 100mm macro (non usm)
2250 x 1800 crop as inset
iso 200
1/200 + f14
manual
on-board flash + splitter
tripod


Whilst fiddling around with something, then looking up, I realised they'd separated ... various muttered oaths were cut short as I spotted this individual a short distance away.

I had the chance to get a couple of shots before it flew off.
Couldn't tell whether it was the male or female ...any ideas, anyone ?





1600 sq crop as inset
other details as before except for f11

(makes me wonder whether the split was amicable... )

pp




splitter thread
http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/v ... .php?t=998

[Bruce Williams]

These are really outstanding pics Paul - spent ages just looking at them!

Is that the ovipositor of the female in pic2? Hmmm....guess it must be....

Bruce

[Ken Ramos]

Is that the ovipositor of the female in pic2?

Either that or a concealed weapon Great shots!

[Planapo]

Very nice capture of this couple, Paul!

Yeah, it´s the ovipositor that she is extending. (Interestingly, the "girl" of my "double fly" syrpids shown lately exhibited that behaviour as well after the copula.)

Looks like a Lucilia sp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae) you´ve photographed. (IDing flies from photos can be very tricky.)

And for the ones who haven´t heard about that already, it might be interesting to hear that such flies can lay their eggs into wounds of vertebrates, including humans, where the larvae (maggots) then hatch and feed.
For medical purposes such maggots are reared in the laboratory under sterile conditions and applied to help to cure badly healing wounds. The maggots work as micro-surgeons cleaning the wound from necrotic tissue and exudates and seem to have an antibacterial effect.

Cheers,
Betty

[beetleman]

Awesome detail and DOF on these Paul.

[puzzledpaul]

Thx all - for the comments / info - although I considered there was a fair bit of scope for improvement, Doug.

(Just trying out the first prototype / lash-up of a splitter for the main flash (550ex) which is looking promising)

pp

[Erland R.N.]

Never seen a picture of similar flies mating, and absolutely never anything like what is shown in the second picture.
Thanks for showing, detailed indeed.

Erland