Empidoidea

Dance flies and long-legged flies (Empidoidea)

Empidoidea is a diverse fly group with over 10,000 species, found worldwide. They are often called "dance flies" because many species form aerial mating swarms. Many Empidoidea are predaceous on other insects, but in the subfamily Empidinae, only males capture prey, which is given to the female during mating as a "nuptial gift".

Rhamphomyia marginata, female

Rhamphomyia longicauda, female

Empis borealis, female

Empis borealis, female

Empis poplitea, male

Rhamphomyia longicauda, male

Allochrotus poecilus

Empis borealis, male

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by: Vince Smith, Simon Rycroft & Dave Roberts