Fly feeding

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    I've been catching long-tongue flies (Philoliche aethiopica) as part of a pollination and behaviour study. This is my attempt at sustaining them in the lab: hand-feeding sugar solution in an artificial flower.

    melanoxylon added this photo to their favorites. (5 months ago)

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    1. Michael_Whitehead 4 months ago | reply

      Finding all that out now. Trial and error experimentation in fly keeping... Still not 100% I'll be able to get them to behave and live in captivity... but trying.

    2. Henry.Cook 4 months ago | reply

      SCIENCE!
      Does the massive tongue retract? or do they fly around with it out?

    3. Michael_Whitehead 4 months ago | reply

      They fly around with it out. There is another genus, Prosoeca, which has an even longer tongue. I believe they tuck it under one wing when flying. If I can I'll tell you whether its left or right wing after this field season.

    4. Henry.Cook 4 months ago | reply

      Sounds absolutely bizarre. Make sure you get some nice macros!

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