# 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!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Empis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Empis_livida_%28aka%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Empis_livida_%28aka%29.jpg)

## Appearance

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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Diptera
- **Family:** Empididae
- **Genus:** Empis

## Interesting facts

- 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.

## Special abilities

- **Nuptial Gift Giver:** Empis males wrap prey in silk to offer females as a gift, helping them mate successfully.
- **Aerial Acrobat:** Empis can hover and dart with incredible precision, allowing them to catch other insects mid-flight.
- **Sharp Snout Hunter:** Empis has a long, pointed proboscis that helps them pierce and consume their insect prey quickly.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 5-20 mm
- **Size:** 3-12 mm
- **Lifespan:** 20-60 days
- **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

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

- **Age differences:** Larvae also hunt small soil-dwelling invertebrates, differing from adult aerial hunting.
- **Primary Foods:** midges, mosquitoes, aphids, small flies, leafhoppers
- **Foraging Method:** Pursuit

## Ecological connections

- **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Argiope aurantia*) — Empis can become prey for spiders.
- **Pollinates:** [dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Some Empis visit flowers for nectar.

## Traits

- [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Empis are harmless and fun to observe, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Empis?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Empis's wingspan?

5-20 mm

### How big is Empis?

3-12 mm

### How long does Empis live?

20-60 days

### How fast can Empis fly?

10 km/h

### What does Empis eat?

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

### Where is Empis usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Empis hunt?

Pursuit

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Empis: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/empis)