Milichiidae (family)

Freeloader fly at Hackett, ACT

Milichiidae (family) at Hackett, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 12:08 PM
Milichiidae (family) at Hackett, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 12:08 PM
Milichiidae (family) at Hackett, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 12:08 PM
Milichiidae (family) at Hackett, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 12:08 PM
Milichiidae (family) at Hackett, ACT - 22 Mar 2019 12:08 PM
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Identification history

Milichiidae (family) 26 Mar 2019 MichaelMulvaney
Milichiidae (family) 24 Mar 2019 TimL

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User's notes

A follow-up sighting to 4202969. The Garden Orb Weaver spider was wrapping up prey whilst the flies burrowed into the silk wrapping. The first image shows a fly sitting on the prey blowing a bubble of stomach contents whilst another fly presumably lays eggs on the silk wrapped prey. The final image shows the fly starting to exit the wrapping. This fly was observed entering the wrapping and then emerging 2 1/2 minutes later. This behaviour has been observed before with this particular spider and this type of fly so presumably it's quite common behaviour.

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • 5mm to 12mm Animal size

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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