Syrphid Fly Laying Eggs in an Ants Nest

This beautiful little fly is Microdon amabilis, one of the Hover flies of the family Syrphidae. It's very small. While I did not measure it, I would say under 10mm long. In the short video, it can be seen ovipositing (egg laying) in and around an ants nest. The ants nest was made in the rotten timber of an old wooden bench in my backyard. The ants are Carpenter ants, Camponotus gasseri. The ants seem a little uncomfortable about the flies presence. Not surprising given the larvae of genus Microdon will actually live within the ant nest feeding on the larvae and pupae of their ant hosts.

In this photos the fly is looking down into the ants nest.

Watch this short video to see her ovipositing (laying eggs) in and around the nest area. You will also see the Carpenter ants in this video.

...and finally a shot of her approaching the ant nest.

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