Posts Tagged: Milichiidae

May the Buzz Be With You

Did you feel the buzz in 2015? The honey bees, bumble bees, sunflower bees, sweat bees...what a year it was! It's time to walk down memory lane--or...

A female ultra green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, nectaring on cosmos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A female ultra green sweat bee, Agapostemon texanus, nectaring on cosmos. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenski, foraging on a tower of jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A yellow-faced bumble bee, Bombus vosnesenski, foraging on a tower of jewels. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee, Apis mellifera, foraging on a Bacopa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee, Apis mellifera, foraging on a Bacopa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two sunflower bees battle it out: a male Svastra (larger bee delivers quick kick to a smaller male Melissodes. The flower is a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two sunflower bees battle it out: a male Svastra (larger bee delivers quick kick to a smaller male Melissodes. The flower is a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A praying mantis eating a bee, predator vs. prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A praying mantis eating a bee, predator vs. prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader flies, family Milichiidae, and probably genus Desmometopa, dining on a honey bee, a spider's prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader flies, family Milichiidae, and probably genus Desmometopa, dining on a honey bee, a spider's prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Pity the Poor Honey Bees

Pity the poor honey bees.  They have to contend with pesticides, parasites, pests, diseases,  malnutrition, stress and that...

Freeloader flies, from family Milichiidae, crowd the carcass of a honey bee trapped in a web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader flies, from family Milichiidae, crowd the carcass of a honey bee trapped in a web. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloaders Never Miss a Meal

If your dog is well, a little chunky, you're probably accustomed to someone saying "Fido never misses a meal, does he?"  Well, those little...

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps a bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata) wraps a bee. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader flies, family Milichildae, gather around the abandoned prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader flies, family Milichildae, gather around the abandoned prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of freeloader flies on a bee wrapped by a banded garden spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of freeloader flies on a bee wrapped by a banded garden spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch

There is such a thing as a free lunch. And a free breakfast. And a free dinner. And a free snack. That is, if you're a freeloader...

A freeloader fly dines on a bee freshly killed by a garden spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A freeloader fly dines on a bee freshly killed by a garden spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a freeloader fly, family Milichiidae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Close-up of a freeloader fly, family Milichiidae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Buddy, Can You Share a Meal?

The next time you see a spider eating a bee snared in its web, look closely. The spider may not be alone. It may have a dinner companion.  A...

Freeloader fly sharing a meal with a spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader fly sharing a meal with a spider. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader fly perched on top of a spider's prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Freeloader fly perched on top of a spider's prey. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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