ExploreInsects

Northeastern Hammertail

Efferia aestuans

The Northeastern Hammertail is a special kind of fly with a long, thin body and beautiful wings. It loves to buzz around flowers and is great at helping plants grow by spreading pollen.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Northeastern Hammertail is a sleek, medium-sized robber fly with a generally dark gray to black body, often appearing frosted on its back. It has distinctive long, tapering abdomen segments that give it a 'hammertail' appearance and large, prominent compound eyes. Its face features a prominent, bristly 'beard' of hairs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyAsilidaeGenusEfferia
Northeastern Hammertail
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Northeastern Hammertail

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

A Hammertail's bristly 'beard' protects its face from struggling prey as it attacks.

Baby Hammertails live underground for years, hunting grubs before they grow wings.

Despite being flies, they sometimes mimic bees or wasps to scare off predators!

This fly can turn its head nearly 360 degrees to spot prey from all angles!

Special abilities

Ability

Lightning Strike

Northeastern Hammertail can snatch flying insects right out of the air using its powerful, spiky legs to secure its prey.

Ability

Venomous Sting

Northeastern Hammertail has a sharp proboscis that injects venom, quickly paralyzing its prey for an easy meal.

Ability

Stealthy Perch

Northeastern Hammertail can blend into its environment, waiting patiently on plants or ground to ambush unsuspecting insects.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
30-50 mm
Size
15-25 mm
Lifespan
20-40 days
Flight Speed
25 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

This fierce insectivore is a master aerial hunter, feeding on a variety of other flying insects.

Age differences: Larvae eat grubs and other insect eggs found in the soil.

Primary Foods

  • Honey bees
  • House flies
  • Grasshoppers
  • Wasps
  • Moths
  • Beetles

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Honey bee

Apis mellifera

A common prey item for adult Hammertails.

hunts

House fly

Musca domestica

Frequently captured by Hammertails in open areas.

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Robber flies can be caught and eaten by insectivorous birds.

eaten by

Garden Spider

Argiope aurantia

May get caught in spider webs as they hunt.

hunts

American Grasshopper

Schistocerca americana

Larger Hammertails can prey on smaller grasshoppers.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

These flies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Northeastern Hammertail's wingspan?

30-50 mm

How big is Northeastern Hammertail?

15-25 mm

How long does Northeastern Hammertail live?

20-40 days

How fast can Northeastern Hammertail fly?

25 km/h

What does Northeastern Hammertail eat?

This fierce insectivore is a master aerial hunter, feeding on a variety of other flying insects.

Where is Northeastern Hammertail usually found?

Wetlands

How does Northeastern Hammertail hunt?

Ambush

How many legs does Northeastern Hammertail have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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