Video of picture wing fly startling a jumping spider Media uri icon

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abstract

  • This video demonstrates the interaction between a picture wing fly Delphinia picta (Fabricius) (Insecta: Diptera: Ulidiidae (=Otitidae)) and a zebra jumping spider, Salticus scenicus. It demonstrates that at least this one species from the Ulidiidae shows a similar anti-predator behaviour to that observed by Tephritid flies. Namely it uses a a "wing rowing" behaviour of its banded wings to startle the spider. This is possibly mimicking the territorial display of jumping spiders (which is what has been proposed for the Tephritid flies).