Dual Mate-Seeking Strategies in Male Syrphid Flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Male syrphids utilized 2 basic strategies to find females: patrolling blossoms and waiting near potential oviposition sites. Both these mate-seeking areas are aggressively defended against conspecific and some nonconspecific intruders. The patrolling behavior of Mallota bautias (Walker), M. posticata (F.), Somula decora Macquart, and Spilomyia hamifera Loew and the waiting behavior of M. posticata and S. decora are described. In the morning, most males patrolled flowering plants which commonly grow near forests to locate females that were feeding on blossoms. They periodically interrupted patrolling to rest on leaves, to feed on blossoms, or to chase flying insects. In the afternoon, M. posticata and S. decora waited in mating territories around rot cavities (i.e., oviposition sites) to mate with females arriving to oviposit. Male syrphids sought females only near flowers and rot cavities, resources that predictably attracted females. Mating sites and behaviors are given for 25 species of syrphids in the subfamily Milesiinae. Eight of these utilized dual mate-seeking strategies. The adaptive value of each strategy is discussed, and these strategies are compared to those found in some other insects.