Empididae
Guides
Clinocera binotata
Clinocera binotata is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, subfamily Clinocerinae. The species was described by Loew in 1876. Like other members of the genus Clinocera, it is associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The specific epithet 'binotata' refers to two spots or markings, likely describing a distinctive pattern on the body.
Clinocera lineata
Clinocera lineata is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the subfamily Clinocerinae, a group of predatory flies often associated with aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. The genus Clinocera comprises species commonly known as dance flies due to their characteristic swarming behavior during mating. Information regarding the specific biology and ecology of C. lineata is limited in available sources.
Clinocerinae
aquatic dance flies
Clinocerinae is a subfamily of dance flies (Empididae) comprising 16 recognized genera including Clinocera, Wiedemannia, Dolichocephala, Trichoclinocera, and Kowarzia. Members are commonly known as aquatic dance flies due to their strong association with freshwater habitats. The subfamily has a global distribution with particularly diverse faunas in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions. Multiple generic revisions and species-level revisions have been published for Nearctic, Palaearctic, and Oriental faunas.
Dolichocephala
dagger flies
Dolichocephala is a genus of empidid flies (dagger flies) in the subfamily Clinocerinae, established by Macquart in 1823. The genus contains at least 50 described species distributed across the Holarctic and Oriental regions. Recent taxonomic revisions have significantly expanded the known species diversity in North America and Southeast Asia.
Dolichocephala argus
Dolichocephala argus is a species of dance fly (family Empididae), first described by Melander in 1928. Dance flies in this family are predatory flies known for their distinctive aerial mating swarms. The genus Dolichocephala is classified within the subfamily Clinocerinae. Available records for this species are sparse, with limited observational data documented.
Empidinae
dance flies
Empidinae, commonly called dance flies, are a subfamily of predatory empidoid flies. Males of many species form mating swarms near visual markers, often presenting captured prey to females as nuptial gifts during courtship. The subfamily exhibits diverse mating systems, including lek polygyny and sex-role reversal where females swarm and males choose mates. Many species are effective pollinators of flowering plants, particularly in alpine and subalpine ecosystems where they can achieve pollination effectiveness comparable to honeybees.
Empis
dance fly
Empis is a genus of dance flies in the family Empididae, established by Linnaeus in 1758. The genus contains numerous species across several subgenera, including Enolempis. Males of some species exhibit distinctive morphological modifications, such as enlarged teeth on the hind leg femora, which are sexually dimorphic and not present in females. The genus is notable for complex mating behaviors including swarming and nuptial gift exchange.
Empis geneatis
dance fly
Empis geneatis is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Melander in 1902. It belongs to the subgenus Enolempis within the genus Empis. Males of this species exhibit distinctive leg modifications: an opposing pair of large teeth on each side of the "knee" joint on the hind leg, a character absent in females. The species is part of a diverse group of predatory flies known for their elaborate courtship behaviors.
Empis leptogastra
dance fly
Empis leptogastra is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Loew in 1863. It belongs to the genus Empis, one of the largest genera within the family. The species has been documented through a limited number of observations, with 19 records in iNaturalist. Dance flies in this genus are known for distinctive courtship behaviors involving swarming and prey presentation by males to females.
Empis spectabilis
dance fly
Empis spectabilis is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1862. The species is part of the large genus Empis, which contains over 50 species in the subgenus Enolempis alone. Dance flies are predatory flies known for their distinctive mating swarms and elaborate courtship behaviors. Males of some Empis species are notable for possessing modified hind legs with enlarged structures used in courtship displays.
Empis tridentata
Empis tridentata is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Coquillett in 1901. The species is distinguished by a distinctive trident-shaped gray marking on the thorax. Like other empidids, adults are predatory and exhibit complex mating behaviors involving swarming and nuptial gift exchange. The species name refers to the three-pointed thoracic marking that serves as a key diagnostic feature.
Hemerodromiini
Hemerodromiini is a tribe of dance flies (family Empididae) within the subfamily Empidinae. Members of this tribe are small to medium-sized predatory flies characterized by their distinctive leg structure and behavior. The tribe is distinguished from related groups by morphological adaptations associated with their characteristic hunting strategy. Hemerodromiini species are found across various habitats, particularly in association with running water and moist environments.
Hilara lutea
Hilara lutea is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1863. As a member of the genus Hilara, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory flies known for their distinctive courtship behaviors where males present nuptial gifts to females. The species epithet 'lutea' (Latin for 'yellow' or 'golden-yellow') likely refers to coloration. Empidid flies are generally small to medium-sized predatory insects found in diverse habitats, with larvae typically developing in soil, decaying organic matter, or aquatic environments.
Hilara umbrosa
Hilara umbrosa is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the genus Hilara, a diverse group of predatory flies known for their distinctive courtship behaviors involving swarming and nuptial gift presentation. The species is part of the subfamily Empidinae and tribe Hilarini. Limited observational data exists for this species, with only 13 documented observations on iNaturalist as of the available sources.
Lamprempis
A genus of dance flies (Empididae) containing approximately 23 described species. Most species have been described from the Americas, with notable contributions by Smith (1962) who described multiple new species. The genus was established by Wheeler & Melander in 1901.
Neoplasta
Neoplasta is a genus of dance flies in the family Empididae, subfamily Empidinae, tribe Hemerodromiini. The genus contains approximately 27 described species distributed across the Americas, with records from North and South America. At least one species, N. parahebes, has been studied in detail and exhibits a life cycle tied to submerged decaying wood in freshwater streams, with predatory habits in both adult and larval stages.
Phyllodromia
dance flies
Phyllodromia is a genus of dance flies in the family Empididae, established by Zetterstedt in 1837. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed primarily in Europe and North America. Species within this genus are small to medium-sized predatory flies. Several species were described by Plant in 2005, indicating ongoing taxonomic work.
Phyllodromia americana
Phyllodromia americana is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Melander in 1947. As a member of the tribe Chelipodini within the subfamily Empidinae, this species belongs to a diverse group of predatory flies commonly known as dance flies due to their distinctive swarming behavior during mating. The genus Phyllodromia is characterized by specific morphological adaptations, though detailed biological information for this particular species remains limited in available literature.
Rhamphomyia
dance flies
Rhamphomyia is a large genus of dance flies (Empididae) comprising over 600 species arranged in 8 subgenera. The genus exhibits remarkable diversity in mating systems, including sex-role reversal where females compete for mates and males provide nuptial gifts. Several species display elaborate visual ornaments used in courtship, such as inflatable abdominal sacs and modified leg scales. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with particular diversity in the Holarctic region, including specialized radiations in arctic tundra environments.
Rhamphomyia brevis
Rhamphomyia brevis is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Hermann Loew in 1861. The species is placed in the subgenus Pararhamphomyia within the genus Rhamphomyia. Dance flies in this family are characterized by complex mating behaviors involving nuptial gifts, though specific details for this species remain limited in published literature.
Rhamphomyia gilvipes
Rhamphomyia gilvipes is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1861. The species belongs to the subgenus Eorhamphomyia within the genus Rhamphomyia. Dance flies in this genus are known for their distinctive courtship behaviors and sexual selection dynamics. The specific epithet 'gilvipes' refers to yellowish or tawny legs.
Rhamphomyia longicauda
Long-tailed Dance Fly
Rhamphomyia longicauda is a dance fly species renowned for its exceptional sex-role reversal in mating behavior. Females form aerial leks at dawn and dusk, displaying inflated abdominal sacs and ornamental leg scales to attract males, who are the choosy sex. Females are obligate recipients of nuptial gifts—prey items captured by males—because they cannot hunt for themselves. This nutritional dependence drives the reversal of typical courtship roles. The species has been extensively studied as a model for sexual selection and the evolution of female ornamentation.
Rhamphomyia luteiventris
Rhamphomyia luteiventris is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Loew in 1864. As a member of the genus Rhamphomyia, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory flies known for their distinctive courtship behaviors. The species epithet 'luteiventris' refers to a yellowish or orange-yellow abdomen. Like other empidid flies, it is presumed to be predatory in both adult and larval stages, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Rhamphomyia nana
Rhamphomyia nana is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Loew in 1861. The species is currently accepted as valid, though it has been treated as a synonym in some taxonomic works. As a member of the genus Rhamphomyia, it belongs to a group known for complex courtship behaviors involving nuptial gifts.
Rhamphomyia nasoni
dance fly
Rhamphomyia nasoni is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Coquillett in 1895. The species has been documented in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area during spring citizen science events. Like other dance flies, it is likely associated with aerial mating swarms and nuptial gift-giving behaviors characteristic of the genus, though specific behavioral details for this species remain poorly documented.
Rhamphomyia sudigeronis
Rhamphomyia sudigeronis is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, first described by Coquillett in 1895. As a member of the genus Rhamphomyia, it belongs to a group of predatory flies known for elaborate courtship behaviors involving nuptial gifts. The species is currently accepted in taxonomic databases, though detailed biological information specific to this species remains limited.
Rhamphomyia testacea
Rhamphomyia testacea is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the subgenus Eorhamphomyia within the genus Rhamphomyia. Dance flies in this genus are known for their distinctive courtship behaviors involving nuptial gifts. The species is poorly documented in modern literature, with minimal observation records available.
Rhamphomyia vittata
Rhamphomyia vittata is a species of dance fly in the family Empididae, described by Loew in 1862. It belongs to the large genus Rhamphomyia, which contains many species known for their distinctive courtship behaviors involving nuptial gifts. Like other members of this genus, males likely present food gifts to females during mating. The species is part of the subgenus Pararhamphomyia.
Trichoclinocera
Trichoclinocera is a genus of aquatic dance flies in the family Empididae, subfamily Clinocerinae. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed across the Holarctic and eastern Asia, with 16 species recognized from the Nearctic region and nine from Japan. Species are organized into six species-groups based on morphological characteristics, primarily of the male terminalia. The genus was established by Collin in 1941 and has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with Seguyella and Acanthoclinocera recently synonymized under Trichoclinocera.
Trichoclinocera dolicheretma
Trichoclinocera dolicheretma is a Nearctic dance fly (Diptera: Empididae: Clinocerinae) belonging to the monotypic T. dolicheretma species group. The species was originally described by Melander in 1902 and later synonymized with T. brunnipennis, which was subsequently reversed with T. brunnipennis synonymized under T. dolicheretma. A lectotype was designated for this species in a 1994 revision of Nearctic Trichoclinocera. The species is part of a genus whose immature stages were described for the first time in that revision, though specific details for T. dolicheretma were not separately highlighted.