Flagellate Antennae Wasp Fly
A very small and fine insect. Size about 2mm. It was quite stationary upside down on a lemon tree leaf. Unfortunately, it was quite windy and taking photos was extremely challenging. Also: of course when I am excited about finding this species some other animal starts competing for attention. Out of many photos, only one frame is satisfactorily showing the whole animal. Some photos are blurry at least in parts but they are showing some anatomical details that might be required for identification. There are various striking features on this beautiful animal. Its flagellate antler-like protrusions on its head are certainly very distinctive. Two of the main stems seem to end in a club. They are segmented and hairy. They are branched and surely symmetrically so. The head hosts two big lateral compound eyes, possibly with oculi on top. Thorax like the rest of the body's main colour is black or dark-brown. The top surface seems pustulose-grainy with fleeing long hair towards the abdomen where the wings start. The wings are long, exceed the body at the back a little. They are transparent but look slightly tinted . They are covered in tiny hair with not very many veins. Back of thorax and start of abdomen seem to have a brighter coloured band and colouration (appears orange in a few frames which might not be a true colour). The end of the abdomen looks like a segment is ending flat, probably hosting some reproductive organs. The legs are long, and show some colour pattern. Most obvious are the thin but long spikes on all leg pairs, just at the end of the tibia. There are no obvious mouth parts visible. Frankly, I am torn whether this animal belongs to Diptera or Hemiptera. It moved and behaved like a wasp, but on second thoughts, I assume this is some sort of a fly, possibly a male. Surely, someone out there in the world not only shares my fascination for this animal but might be so kind to shed some light into the identity of this probably not often photographed beauty.
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