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Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial
Feeding Habits
Adults: predaceous
Immatures: predaceous
Size: 2 to 12 mm
Flight : strong flier
North American Species: 725
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Diptera Empididae
Dance flies
Front Wings: membranous
Hind Wings: reduced to halteres
Mouthparts: sucking
Antenna Length: shorter than body
Antenna Shape: straight
Front Legs: unmodified
Hind Legs: unmodified
Special Characteristics:
Empididae are small to medium sized flies, usually elongated and mostly dark colored. They have a rounded head and a distinct neck, a large and humpbacked thorax and long tapered abdomen. The legs are slender and sometimes the front legs are raptorial, for grasping other insects. The proboscis is often long and pointed.
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Species: Rhamphomyia longicauda Loew
Common Name:
Feeding Habits: Larvae and adults are predators of small insects.
Distribution: Eastern Canada
Comments: This species has a complex courtship. The females form swarms and inflate their abdomens and spread their broadly scaled legs to make themselves look bigger. The males capture flies and other insects and bring them to the females as gifts.
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