Incredible Fly Mimic

[boghaunter1]

Following is one amazing result of nature, evolution, creation or whatever your belief. It is a tiny fly from P.N.G. that has evolved (my belief, but how??) to have remarkable dark patterned silhouettes of spiders?/ants?... one on each wing.

Screen-Shot-2013-11-06-at-15_40_02.png[/attachment [attachment=0]Screen-Shot-2013-11-06-at-15_33_51-e1383780969152.png

[livingplanet3]

Following is one amazing result of nature, evolution, creation or whatever your belief. It is a tiny fly from P.N.G. that has evolved (my belief, but how??) to have remarkable dark patterned silhouettes of spiders?/ants?... one on each wing...

That's one of the neatest things I've seen today!

Also, here's a bird-dropping-mimicking moth (Macrocilix maia) complete with false flies on its wings -

[adamcotton]

It is a tiny fly from P.N.G. that has evolved (my belief, but how??) to have remarkable dark patterned silhouettes of spiders?/ants?... one on each wing.

These definitely mimic Salticid spiders. This must have taken probably millions of years of natural selection (the ones with wings that looked most like spiders survived when the ones that didn't were eaten).

Adam.

[boghaunter1]

Hello livingplanet3

That bird-dropping-mimicking moth (Macrocilix maia) is certainly as amazing as that little spider mimicking fly! This will make me more critically examine the wing patterns of other moths/butterflies/flies. That little fly might belong to a group of flies called the picture winged flies? which have very interesting/unique/pretty patterns on their wings . I've, on occasion, up here in Sask., seen these little flies, but have had no luck in catching any... too small & too fast! Again, Thanks for posting... that moth was a new one for me!... nice to know an old dog can still learn new tricks!

Yes Adam, totally agree... must have taken millions of years to so selectively evolve...

John K.

[adamcotton]

Also, here's a bird-dropping-mimicking moth (Macrocilix maia) complete with false flies on its wings -

I have seen this or something very similar here. I never realised what the markings on the wings could be.

Adam.