Cave-dwelling larvae of the fly family Keroplatidae (predaceous fungus gnats) spin sticky silk draglines to entrap insect prey. The larva itself is visible at left, just below the rock face.

Armenia, Belize
Lines of sticky silk hang from the roof of a Belizean cave, helping a predaceous fungus gnat (Keroplatidae) capture flying insects.

Armenia, Belize
Parasitic Xenox trigrinus bee flies (Bombyliidae) dry their wings after emerging from the carpenter bee burrow where their mother laid eggs. 

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A parasitic Apocephalus phorid fly attempts to lay her egg (note the long, snaking ovipositor) while her Acromyrmex leafcutter victim struggles to pin the attacker against her defensive spines.

Monte Verde, Minas Gerais, Brazil
In a coastal rainforest, a tropical crane fly (Tipulidae) rests on a leaf. 

Morretes, Paraná, Brazil
A hover fly sits on its perch.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
Prochyliza xanthostoma, the waltzing fly.

Urbana, Illinois, USA
A vinegar fly (Drosophilidae) circles in to land on a shelf fungus. 

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
A vinegar fly (Drosophilidae) circles in to land on a shelf fungus. Note the iridescent patterning on the wing. These metallic colors were recently discovered to be species-specific and potentially involved in communication.

Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia
Cave-dwelling larvae of the fly family Keroplatidae (predaceous fungus gnats) spin sticky silk draglines to entrap insect prey. The larva itself is visible at left, just below the rock face.

Armenia, Belize
Cave-dwelling larvae of the fly family Keroplatidae (predaceous fungus gnats) spin sticky silk draglines to entrap insect prey. The larva itself is visible at left, just below the rock face.

Armenia, Belize
Cave-dwelling larvae of the fly family Keroplatidae (predaceous fungus gnats) spin sticky silk draglines to entrap insect prey. The larva itself is visible at left, just below the rock face.

Armenia, Belize
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013