Interesting moustache

Shot this bark fly at 5:1- didn't realise it had an interesting fashion accesory.

Any ideas on what it is ?

Brian V.

Click on Pic for larger size

IMAGE LINK: http://farm2.static.fl​ickr.com …93019566_c46579​325b_o.jpg

What do they eat? might be that?

lance v wrote in post #3954231
What do they eat? might be that?

No think they just graze algae etc - I think this might be a "cleaning " springtail on it similar to the ones you get in ant's nests.

Brian V.

I think your right Brian, it looks like another bug of some kind. Good shot.

Alistair.

do they clean other bugs?

lance v wrote in post #3954253
do they clean other bugs?

Some springtails live in ants nests and generally eat and clean the detritus in them including bits on the ants as well.
eg in the shot below- the ant seems to be wandering around with two springtails on it's back/abdomen which look similar to the one above.

Brian V.

O wow thats soo cool! the cleaner wrass of the bug world lol. well ya learn sumthing new every day cheers LordV

Nice shot Brian, I guess you didn't notice the insect in it's mouth until you looked at the shot on the puter, given it size.

Hiya Brian,

Excellent shot/capture, I'd a guessed it was a ' Springtail ' by the looks of it, I had a look at the Bark Fly Recording Survey & it said there that they only scoff organics so I came to the same conclusion as you did that it was a Springtail having a clean up

Cheers for now
Mark

Thanks for the comments Alby and Mark

Alby - Quite right didn't see the add-on until I was processing the pics - pity I didn't take more to see if the tiny bug shifted.
Brian V.

springtails eat fungi so he could be giving him a quick clean, or washing his mouth! great shot.

A bug!!!! LOL!!

I know I keep saying it, but this is why I love macro. It shows you things that you'd never normally see.

Great shot Brian.

Thanks for the comments Jay, Joan and Bernie
brian V.

Brian, what aperture are you normally shooting with insect subjects?