Longhorn Cactus Fly

On the cracking surface of a rotting opuntia branch, a large male cactus fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis) is standing over two much smaller females who are ovipositing into a small crevice. Other males of varying sizes repeatedly approach the trio and are repelled by the guarding male. He briefly establishes genital contact with one of the females, and she resumes oviposition immediately after he withdraws his aedeagus. Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 16 November 2008. [taxonomy:binomial=Odontoloxozus longicornis]

A large male cactus fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis) and smaller female are stting on a rotting opuntia branch. When a second, smaller male approaches and mounts the female, the large male chases him away. The female then moves away, and the large male maintains contact with her by touching her with his foreleg. When the large male starts feeding on a small crevice oozing cactus juice, he has apparently lost interest in the female. The female and the small male try to gain access to the crevice, but the large male keeps both of them away. After a brief, violent struggle with the female, the large male flies away. Note that the female is missing one of her forelegs. Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 16 November 2008. [taxonomy:binomial=Odontoloxozus longicornis]

On the cracking surface of a rotting opuntia branch, a large male cactus fly (Odontoloxozus longicornis) chases away a small male that has just dismounted a female. The large male guards the female by standing over her while she is feeding in crevices on the cactus surface. The large male then goes on to feed, while the female begins to oviposit into a crevice. Undetected by the large male, the small male approaches the female again and mates with her. When other males approach the mating pair, the large male defends the female, who has started ovipositing again while the small male crouches behind her, apparently hiding from the large male. Even as he is standing above the pair, the large male does not seem to notice the small male who swiftly slips away. The large male establishes genital contact, repeatedly stroking the female's ovipositor with his aedeagus, then dismounts. Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. 16 November 2008. [taxonomy:binomial=Odontoloxozus longicornis]