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Dance Flies
ExploreInsects
Dance Flies
Empididae
Dance flies are fun little insects that love to dance in the air! They have long legs and can be seen flitting around flowers and plants, making them look like they are having a party.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Dance Flies typically have slender bodies, long legs, and large, prominent eyes that often meet at the top of their heads. Their coloring ranges from drab browns and grays to metallic greens or black, with some species displaying distinct markings or fuzzy leg ornaments, making them visually unique among common flies.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyEmpididae
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Males sometimes offer empty silk 'gifts' to trick females into mating!
Some dance flies wear fluffy leg decorations just to impress their partners!
These tiny acrobats can stop in mid-air and hover perfectly still!
They are ancient aerial predators, hunting other insects for millions of years!
Special abilities
Ability
Aerial Hunter
Dance Flies can catch other flying insects in mid-air because of their exceptional agility and sharp eyesight.
Ability
Nuptial Gift Giver
Males can offer silk-wrapped 'gifts' (often prey) to females, which helps them secure a mate.
Ability
Swarm Dancer
Dance Flies perform complex aerial dances in swarms that help them find mates and confuse predators.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 4-30 mm
- Size
- 2-15 mm
- Lifespan
- 15-45 days
- Flight Speed
- 10 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Dance Flies are insectivores, mostly preying on other small insects they catch in flight.
Primary Foods
- midges
- mosquitoes
- aphids
- small flies
- nectar
Foraging Method
- Pursuit
Ecological connections
hunts
non-biting midge
Chironomus plumosus
Many dance fly species actively prey on adult midges.
hunts
yellow fever mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Dance flies help control mosquito populations by catching them.
eaten by
garden spider
Araneus diadematus
Dance flies can become entangled in spider webs and eaten.
eaten by
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great tit
Parus major
Small birds, like tits, often feed on various flying insects.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Aerial
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Dance flies are harmless, so you can watch them without worry!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dance Flies's wingspan?
4-30 mm
How big is Dance Flies?
2-15 mm
How long does Dance Flies live?
15-45 days
How fast can Dance Flies fly?
10 km/h
What does Dance Flies eat?
Dance Flies are insectivores, mostly preying on other small insects they catch in flight.
Where is Dance Flies usually found?
Grasslands
How does Dance Flies hunt?
Pursuit
How many legs does Dance Flies have?
6
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