Was carefully sneaking up on the larger wasp (the female at around 15 mm) when she was jumped by a passing male. Got one shot before the pair scattered in different directions.
Tiny flies (2 and 3 mm) that in common with many of the family have more sexual dimorphism than most of the Diptera. The rear extensions are the hind legs of the smaller male. Normally these flies are seen singly, scuttling around leaves in the evening feeding on honeydew and other leaf deposits. I saw this scene briefly some years ago, failed to get a clear image, and have been waiting for another opportunity.
Tags: Mating Phoridae Scuttle flies
Coccidohystrix insolita (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) the egg plant mealy bug. Males and young females are present in this image. Males are tiny winged insects around a mm body length with drifting hovering flight and are seldom seen. Similar sexual dimorphism is seen in the scale insects.
In this instance the female population on the egg plant is into the third generation and the density is very high. Many males are present today. I expect the males to disappear in a day or two leaving young females primed for the fourth and overwhelming generation.
The next day the males were gone.
PS. The wing folding is different in the two males side by side above. Left over right and right over left. I wonder if there is a preferred handedness?
Tags: male mealy bugs Coccidohystrix insolita Hemiptera Pseudococcidae
Icerya sp. The male is 2.5 mm in length. An immature recently settled sedentary female a mm or so in length or so in length can be seen mostly under the wing. Make a habit of looking for the much smaller males when you see a bunch of female scales. You have to leave the scale alone to multiply and look every day. The males do not fed and live perhaps for two days. Found on Guava leaves at the house after a month of looking. .
A mature female settled in situ: not having moved for many weeks.