interaction recorded while snacking on black raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) and looking for hangingflies (Bittacus), who conveniently seem to enjoy perching on raspberry canes here

A good find: Bittacus pilicornis capturing a moth. AKA the hairy-horned scorpion fly, a member of the #Bittacidae (hangingflies). They have mottled wings, long legs, the 2 posterior pair w tarsal claws for catching prey. Scattered. NE US July ‘24

#Bittacus #insects #bugsky #predation #iNaturalist

Insectember day 7: Bittacus italicus
Common name: Hangingfly✨
#insectember2024 #bugs #bugpeople

In the last 2 weeks I've added another 49 species! Includes 2 new fireflies, several moths, and a very interesting insect called the Thin Hangfly (Bittacus strigosus). I know my proximity to natural areas acts as a source, but it's still neat to have this #biodiversity in my yard ❤️ #inaturalist

one leg for hangin' around, five legs for snackin'
i love when a predator shows up to a blacklight buffet

My New Year’s resolution was to get out do photography more. I haven’t done so great yet. But finding this photo I got of mating hanging flies encouraged me. The males give gifts of food to the females and mate after she accepts the offer. How cool is that? #inverts

If fleas are more closely related to scorpionflies, we would kind of expect to see similar spermathecal abundance in scorpionflies. However, the scorpionfly genera Panorpa, Bittacus, and Boreus all appear to have one (1) spermatheca only

Por la noche, en los bosques de Austria y Alemania, el mosquito Bittacus hageni caza a otros mosquitos e incluso parece ser que se lleva a las arañas de su tela. 📷Lorin Timaeus #insectos #insects