On the cracking surface of a rotting opuntia branch, a large male cactus fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis) is standing over two much smaller females who are ovipositing into a small crevice. Other males of varying sizes repeatedly approach the trio and are repelled by the guarding male. He briefly establishes genital contact with one of the females, and she resumes oviposition immediately after he withdraws his aedeagus. Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 16 November 2008.
[taxonomy:binomial=Odontoloxozus longicornis]
Summary[edit] Description: Stilt Fly, a species of Metopochetus, family Micropezidae. ANSTO Buffer Zone Track, Lucas Heights, NSW Australia, April 2012. Date: 6 April 2012, 10:31. Source: Stilt Fly. Author: John Tann from Sydney, Australia. Camera location34° 02′ 34.98″ S, 150° 59′ 43.53″ EView all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap-34.043049; 150.995424.
Summary[edit] Description: Telostylinus lineolatus Neriidae feeding (Bangalore, India) August 2010. Date: August 2010. Source: Own work. Author: L. Shyamal.
Odontoloxozus longicornis males guarding a piece of rotting Opuntia. Male body size is highly variable in this species. Some males are about the same size as females, while others are more than twice as large. Large males stake out territories on suitable oviposition substrates, mate with a female, and may then guard her through multiple oviposition and mating bouts. Small males often linger in the periphery and sneak in to score a mating when the large, guarding male is distracted by a fight with another male or the arrival of a new female.
A large male cactus fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis) and smaller female are stting on a rotting opuntia branch. When a second, smaller male approaches and mounts the female, the large male chases him away. The female then moves away, and the large male maintains contact with her by touching her with his foreleg. When the large male starts feeding on a small crevice oozing cactus juice, he has apparently lost interest in the female. The female and the small male try to gain access to the crevice, but the large male keeps both of them away. After a brief, violent struggle with the female, the large male flies away. Note that the female is missing one of her forelegs. Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 16 November 2008.
[taxonomy:binomial=Odontoloxozus longicornis]