Re -Small black fly on spider prey
I have to apologise for the sin of making assumptions knowing full well that one should never assume anything
The identification I received from i-Spot was that the fly was Desmometopa - a Freeloader Fly
I then researched on the web giving the two names and came to the conclusion it was m-nigra said to be found feeding on the body fluids of captured bees. It was assumed this to be the ID, apparently wrongly - I will never trust the internet again.
I held back from replying before because I assumed a specimen or two would be caught and sent to Del and report that they were on their way.
However this assumption also went wrong when a party of very hungry Great and Blue Tits swept through the garden. They scoured the shrubs, window sills, fence panels, etc, taking virtually all the spiders available, especially the seven very fat, juicy, Garden Spiders we had in residence, so that plan was scotched.
Sorry for the confusion, but next year, another try perhaps.
I have to apologise for the sin of making assumptions knowing full well that one should never assume anything
The identification I received from i-Spot was that the fly was Desmometopa - a Freeloader Fly
I then researched on the web giving the two names and came to the conclusion it was m-nigra said to be found feeding on the body fluids of captured bees. It was assumed this to be the ID, apparently wrongly - I will never trust the internet again.
I held back from replying before because I assumed a specimen or two would be caught and sent to Del and report that they were on their way.
However this assumption also went wrong when a party of very hungry Great and Blue Tits swept through the garden. They scoured the shrubs, window sills, fence panels, etc, taking virtually all the spiders available, especially the seven very fat, juicy, Garden Spiders we had in residence, so that plan was scotched.
Sorry for the confusion, but next year, another try perhaps.