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A fairly rare female hoverfly gathering nectar of a giant scabious flower in a wasteland near marls. The adult is floricole, the larvae develop in the rotted wood. It serves as a taxi (phoresy) to a tiny arachnid that look like a scorpion (pseudoscorpion). He uses his pedipalpes to cling to the insects that transport him to places where he will find food. They feed on litter of small arthropods, often acarines and springtails.

Un syrphe femelle assez rare butine une fleur de une céphalaire à fleurs blanches en bordure des marnes. L'adulte est floricole, les larves se developpent dans le bois pourri. Elle sert de taxi (phorésie) à un minuscule arachnide qui ressemble fort à un scorpion (pseudoscorpion). Il utilise ses pédipalpes (pinces) pour s'aggriper aux insectes qui le transporte vers des lieux où il trouvera de la nourriture. Ils se nourrissent dans la litière de petits arthropodes, souvent des acariens et des collemboles.

Li vedevo danzare in volo, e mi sembrava un corteggiamento. Vedendoli però poi scontrarsi su quella foglia di rovo, posso solo dedurre che ci siano stati dei dissapori.

Sequenza animata della discussione (56 fotogrammi; alla fine uno rinuncia e se ne va, lasciando quello che ha la macchia bianca sulla punta dell'ala anteriore più pronunciata e la peluria più chiara a godersi la sua vittoria):

Sequence of the two butterflies arguing (56 frames; in the end one gives up and takes off, leaving the one with the wider white band at the tip of the forewing and the lighter 'fur' to enjoy victory):