Wasp mimics caught in the act: Paparazzi moments in the macro world

Say hello to the genus Scipopus, a group of eccentric stilt-legged flies (family Micropezidae) that look like they are walking on toothpicks. Flaunting a black-and-red wardrobe, these flies mimic stinging wasps and rhythmically wave their front legs in the air to perfectly imitate twitching wasp antennae. But the weirdness doesn’t stop there. Scipopus flies double as a public transit system for the jungle’s tinier residents. In a bizarre symbiotic relationship known as phoresy, miniature pseudoscorpions attach themselves to the fly’s long hind legs, hitchhiking across massive distances. If you get close enough, you’ll also notice they flash brilliant, bright-white “socks” on their feet every time they wave their legs. I stumbled upon a pair of these lanky flies sharing an intimate moment, completely inseparable for quite some time. I happily capitalized on their distraction to snag some fantastic macro shots!

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