Black Fig Fly mating.

Observing the Silba adipata McAlpine mating is incredibly rare. I can report only one observation on the subject. I did not witness the mating phase, but I was able to observe the two flies in copula on a fig tree leaf. I provide below the details of this observation.

MATED BLACK FIG FLIES DETECTION

On June 30, 2016, around noon, I was walking around an old bush of the 'Dauphine' variety, with ripe breba figs, trying to spot black fig flies. As I was finishing my inspection, I thought I glimpsed an elongated fly with raised wings and a twisted body, moving in place, on a leaf in the second row of the periphery of the bush, in the shade. Intrigued by this unusual shape and posture, I cautiously approached to observe the fly more closely.

I immediately determined that it was actually two mated black fig flies. To my relative surprise, while mated, they were feeding on a puddle of ripe fig juice (which had dripped onto the leaf from a fig above). I was able to observe them for a little over a minute.

Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf.

. Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf.

Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf.

COUPLE IN COPULA CONFIGURATION

The coupling position was of the end-to-end type. The two flies were placed at the same level in opposite directions and were joined by the end of their abdomen. One of the two having the wings open and raised, the other the wings closed. I determined in the photographs that the male was the individual with raised wings, and I confirmed that the other was the female.

Two mated black fig flies (coupling position: end-to-end type).

In the photograph below, we can identity the male (open raised wings) by its narrow interocular space, and the identification of the female is confirmed by its tightly segmented abdomen end.

Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf (coupling position: end-to-end type).

ABDOMENS ARTICULATION

Upon closer examination of the junction between the two abdomens, I observe that the male's abdomen is positioned above the female's one.

Black fig flies in copula: the male's abdomen (on the left) is attached above the female's one.

Black fig flies in copula: the male's abdomen (on the left) is attached above the female's one.

COUPLE FEEDING ACTIVITY

The two flies did not move on the puddle of sweet juice at the usual speed of a single fly, but performed slow circular movements almost in place while keeping the wings in the same position. The two bodies joined by the abdomen were most often found in the continuation of one another (photograph below).

Bodies position 1 of two mated black fig flies feeding on a fig tree leaf.

But, sometimes, the movement made them shifted relative to each other, with an angle of an amplitude never larger than 45 ° (photograph below).

Bodies position 2 of two mated black fig flies feeding on a fig tree leaf.

MOVING UP THE FIG TREE LEAF

After about one minute, the male fly turned around and went up the leaf, towards the edge of it, seeming to drag the female who kept the wings closed and who was still in the extension of the male abdomen. I could not determine if the female was really being dragged or if it was walking backwards.

Two black fig flies in copula going up a fig tree leaf.

Two black fig flies in copula going up a fig tree leaf.

COUPLE TAKING FLIGHT

When the couple reached the leaf edge, a few centimeters above their starting point, the male fly spread his wings flat in a cross shape. The female kept her wings folded and her body aligned with the male's, as if she were not intending to fly but simply to remain attached to the male during the flight.

Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight.

Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight.

Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight.

Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight.

Then the male took flight, the female still attached to it. I am sure the couple did not split up when it took flight. And it seemed to me that only the male was flying and that the female had remained with its wings closed, the body in the extension of that of the male. I had the impression that a rigid bar was flying away. Note added in 2026: this fleeting observation is confirmed by a couple taking flight photograph provided by B. PEYRE, consultant trainer for the French fig industry (see the second chapter relating to an observation of Silba adipata McAlpine in copula).

I was not able to observe the black fig flies couple beyond it took flight, due to the still very fast flight of the male. Despite half an hour of meticulous scrutiny of the fig tree bush, I could not find the mated flies on the tree or observe them in flight.

SPECIAL OBSERVATION

In the photograph below, we notice that the male fly's right wing is partially damaged. Could this be the result of an in-flight maneuver during mating, suggesting that the latter took place in flight and that the two flies landed on the leaf already mated to feed from the puddle of sugary juice?

Silba adipata McAlpine: couple in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf.

Silba adipata McAlpine: couple in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf.

NOTE: regarding the Silba adipata McAlpine mating place, see the chapter in which I put forward a reasoned hypothesis.

Silba adipata McAlpine Presentation Biology Living habits Infestation Control methods

Home > Biology > Mating (F. DROUET's observation).		Author : François DROUET. Photographs : François DROUET. All rights reserved.

Mating F. DROUET's observation Observing the Silba adipata McAlpine mating is incredibly rare. I can report only one observation on the subject. I did not witness the mating phase, but I was able to observe the two flies in copula on a fig tree leaf. I provide below the details of this observation. MATED BLACK FIG FLIES DETECTION On June 30, 2016, around noon, I was walking around an old bush of the 'Dauphine' variety, with ripe breba figs, trying to spot black fig flies. As I was finishing my inspection, I thought I glimpsed an elongated fly with raised wings and a twisted body, moving in place, on a leaf in the second row of the periphery of the bush, in the shade. Intrigued by this unusual shape and posture, I cautiously approached to observe the fly more closely. I immediately determined that it was actually two mated black fig flies. To my relative surprise, while mated, they were feeding on a puddle of ripe fig juice (which had dripped onto the leaf from a fig above). I was able to observe them for a little over a minute. Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf. Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf. COUPLE IN COPULA CONFIGURATION The coupling position was of the end-to-end type. The two flies were placed at the same level in opposite directions and were joined by the end of their abdomen. One of the two having the wings open and raised, the other the wings closed. I determined in the photographs that the male was the individual with raised wings, and I confirmed that the other was the female. Two mated black fig flies (coupling position: end-to-end type). In the photograph below, we can identity the male (open raised wings) by its narrow interocular space, and the identification of the female is confirmed by its tightly segmented abdomen end. Two mated black fig flies on a fig tree leaf (coupling position: end-to-end type). ABDOMENS ARTICULATION Upon closer examination of the junction between the two abdomens, I observe that the male's abdomen is positioned above the female's one. Black fig flies in copula: the male's abdomen (on the left) is attached above the female's one. COUPLE FEEDING ACTIVITY The two flies did not move on the puddle of sweet juice at the usual speed of a single fly, but performed slow circular movements almost in place while keeping the wings in the same position. The two bodies joined by the abdomen were most often found in the continuation of one another (photograph below). Bodies position 1 of two mated black fig flies feeding on a fig tree leaf. But, sometimes, the movement made them shifted relative to each other, with an angle of an amplitude never larger than 45 ° (photograph below). Bodies position 2 of two mated black fig flies feeding on a fig tree leaf. MOVING UP THE FIG TREE LEAF After about one minute, the male fly turned around and went up the leaf, towards the edge of it, seeming to drag the female who kept the wings closed and who was still in the extension of the male abdomen. I could not determine if the female was really being dragged or if it was walking backwards. Two black fig flies in copula going up a fig tree leaf. COUPLE TAKING FLIGHT When the couple reached the leaf edge, a few centimeters above their starting point, the male fly spread his wings flat in a cross shape. The female kept her wings folded and her body aligned with the male's, as if she were not intending to fly but simply to remain attached to the male during the flight. Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight. Two black fig flies in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf, just before taking flight. Then the male took flight, the female still attached to it. I am sure the couple did not split up when it took flight. And it seemed to me that only the male was flying and that the female had remained with its wings closed, the body in the extension of that of the male. I had the impression that a rigid bar was flying away. Note added in 2026: this fleeting observation is confirmed by a couple taking flight photograph provided by B. PEYRE, consultant trainer for the French fig industry (see the second chapter relating to an observation of Silba adipata McAlpine in copula). I was not able to observe the black fig flies couple beyond it took flight, due to the still very fast flight of the male. Despite half an hour of meticulous scrutiny of the fig tree bush, I could not find the mated flies on the tree or observe them in flight. SPECIAL OBSERVATION In the photograph below, we notice that the male fly's right wing is partially damaged. Could this be the result of an in-flight maneuver during mating, suggesting that the latter took place in flight and that the two flies landed on the leaf already mated to feed from the puddle of sugary juice? Silba adipata McAlpine: couple in copula on the edge of a fig tree leaf. NOTE: regarding the Silba adipata McAlpine mating place, see the chapter in which I put forward a reasoned hypothesis. Top of page Summary