AbstractAceratoneuromyiahas been considered a close relative ofMelittobiaand allies by several authors. Evidence from courtship behaviour suggests that such a relationship is very unlikely. Furthermore, the courtship ofAceratoneuromyia granulansis interesting from a comparative point of view in that it is rigidly organized, with an alternation of so‐called low‐ and high‐phases. It has been hypothesized earlier that these phase shifts coincide with motivational changes underlying courtship behaviour. The low‐phase was supposed to be an expression of a relative predominance of the tendency to copulate. Low‐phase behaviour ofA.granulansseems to be straightforward copulatory behaviour, though not oriented towards the female's genita