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Empis

Empis are fascinating insects known for their long legs and unique hunting skills. They often catch other insects in mid-air, making them exciting to watch in nature!

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Empis is a slender fly with long legs and a distinctive, elongated proboscis. They often have dull grey, brown, or black bodies, some species exhibiting yellowish markings. Their often hairy bodies distinguish them from many other flies.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenDipteraFamiliaEmpididaeGéneroEmpis

Empis

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Empis larvae live in soil and also hunt tiny creatures underground.

Some Empis males look like ghosts wrapped in silk when giving gifts!

They are known as 'dance flies' for their impressive aerial mating swarms.

They help keep annoying pests like mosquitoes from getting too numerous.

Habilidades especiales

Empis males wrap prey in silk to offer females as a gift, helping them mate successfully.

Empis can hover and dart with incredible precision, allowing them to catch other insects mid-flight.

Empis has a long, pointed proboscis that helps them pierce and consume their insect prey quickly.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 5-20 mm
Tamaño: 3-12 mm
Esperanza de vida: 20-60 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 10 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Empis are tiny insect hunters, using their sharp mouthparts to catch other small bugs.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae also hunt small soil-dwelling invertebrates, differing from adult aerial hunting.

Alimentos principales

midges
mosquitoes
aphids
small flies
leafhoppers

Método de búsqueda

Pursuit

Conexiones ecológicas

hunts

common mosquito

Culex pipiens

Empis preys on this mosquito species.

hunts

cotton aphid

Aphis gossypii

Empis helps control aphid populations.

eaten by

garden spider

Argiope aurantia

Empis can become prey for spiders.

pollinates

dandelion

Taraxacum officinale

Some Empis visit flowers for nectar.

Rasgos

Aéreo

Las criaturas aéreas pasan una parte importante de su vida en el aire, utilizando el vuelo para diversas actividades como la caza, la migración o la anidación.