Foreleg-waving
Guides
Micropezidae
stilt-legged flies
Micropezidae is a family of acalyptrate muscoid flies comprising approximately 500 species in 50 genera and five subfamilies. Commonly called stilt-legged flies, they are distinguished by extraordinarily elongated middle and hind legs, with markedly smaller fore legs. Adults range from 3–16 mm and exhibit remarkable mimicry of ants, wasps, and ichneumonid wasps. The family is most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly the Neotropics, and is absent from New Zealand and Macquarie Island. Larval biology remains poorly known, with development occurring in decaying vegetation, manure, fungi, and in some species, living plant roots.