Dance Flies

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Empididae: //ɛmˈpɪdɪˌdeɪ//

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Summary

Empididae, commonly known as Dance Flies, Dagger Flies, or Balloon Flies, are a diverse family of small to medium-sized predatory flies with over 3,000 species known worldwide. They exhibit a range of feeding behaviors and complex mating rituals, particularly involving the presentation of nuptial gifts by males to females.

Physical Characteristics

Small to medium-sized flies (1.0 to 15.0 mm) with elongated bodies, usually dark colored. They have a rounded head with large eyes, a humpbacked thorax, and long tapered abdomen. The legs are slender, with some front legs adapted for grasping prey. The proboscis is long and pointed in many species. The wings are clear or partially tinged and may have distinctive venation characteristics.

Identification Tips

Empididae can be distinguished from families like Dolichopodidae and Hybotidae by the presence of unrotated and symmetrical terminalia, and the prosternum fused with the proepisternum. The eyes may have a notch at the level of the antennae, and males often exhibit contiguous eyes (holoptic).

Habitat

Adults are found in various forest habitats, on leaves, tree trunks, and aquatic vegetation, as well as in open areas like grasslands and marshes. Larvae are often found in moist soil, rotten wood, dung, or aquatic habitats.

Distribution

Worldwide, with over 3,000 described species distributed across all biogeographic realms, predominantly found in the Holarctic region.

Diet

Adults are primarily predatory, feeding on a wide range of arthropod prey including other Diptera, Hemiptera, and various insects. Some adults also feed on nectar and pollen. Larvae can be predaceous or saprophagous, often feeding on decaying materials or other larvae.

Life Cycle

The life cycle includes larval stages that can be found in various moist environments such as soil, water, or organic matter. The pupal stage occurs without a puparium.

Reproduction

Males perform courtship rituals that may involve presenting wrapped prey items as nuptial gifts. Females choose mates based on these offerings. There is significant variability in mating systems across different species.

Ecosystem Role

Empididae play an important role in natural pest control due to their predatory habits on various insect species; they also contribute to pollination.

Evolution

Empididae have a long evolutionary history, well represented in amber deposits, and appear to have been established since at least the Cretaceous period. The family has undergone various taxonomic revisions relating to the classification of associated subfamilies and families within Empidoidea.

Misconceptions

The term 'dance flies' is sometimes inaccurately applied to the entire family; specifically, this term refers only to a separate family, Hybotidae.

Tags

• Empididae
• Diptera
• Dance Flies
• Dagger Flies
• Balloon Flies