# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Northeastern Hammertail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Efferia_aestuans1.JPG&width=800) Photo: Cody Hough, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Efferia_aestuans1.JPG) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Asilidae - **Genus:** Efferia ## 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 - **Lightning Strike:** Northeastern Hammertail can snatch flying insects right out of the air using its powerful, spiky legs to secure its prey. - **Venomous Sting:** Northeastern Hammertail has a sharp proboscis that injects venom, quickly paralyzing its prey for an easy meal. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robber flies can be caught and eaten by insectivorous birds. - **Eaten by:** [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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 These flies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northeastern Hammertail? 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Chatham Arch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chatham-arch) — Indiana, US · Neighborhood - [Customhouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/customhouse-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Downtown Providence Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-providence-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [India Point Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/india-point-park) — Rhode Island, US · Nature Reserve - [Prospect Terrace Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/prospect-terrace-park) — Rhode Island, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Northeastern Hammertail](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northeastern-hammertail) ## 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*) --- Source: [Northeastern Hammertail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northeastern-hammertail)