Frog-eyed Double-trunk Wasp
Size maximum 2mm. The animal was moving on a native bush. Unfortunately, it was windy and I didn't manage to take more and better photos. I observed it for quite a while. It moves like a bug, occasionally flies. It is almost as if the animal vacuum cleans the leaves, moving its trunk-like antennae or proboscis from side to side. It has huge shiny green compound eyes that are almost wider than its head. In the middle there are three distinct ocelli. Its wings are at an angle on its back, exceed the body length and like the rest of the dorsum are covered in fine hair. An identification is extremely difficult. There are more photos but none of them presentable or in proper focus. It could also be a juvenile, even a Neuroptera (a huge specimen was found inside and underneath the same branch). Any help for identification is appreciated. I named this species because I think it is something special and spectacular and deserves to be highlighted. Update 6/11/2016: I managed to find this species again and had a lucky shot. It clearly shows that the hind legs have fine black dots up on tarsi and tibia. I measured the leaf in the picture and it is 1mm in width. Update 19/1/2017: I found an ID for this animal. Since it is not a fly but a wasp, I had to rename and move it. It is probably an Anicetus species. I call it Anicetus mirabilis, since this is the only species shown for Brisbane on ALA. Interestingly enough, this species is linked as parasitic to Ceroplastes ceriferus, a scale insect that I mainly find where I spotted this wasp. Nature is phenomenal! Update 4/2/2017: Whenever you think you have lost a species in your garden, after months of absence it pops up again. Saw several individuals in three different spots and they are quite large, 2mm without antennae. Very visible and much easier to photograph when they don't constantly run.
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