Long-tailed Dance Fly vs Japanese Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Dance Fly | Japanese Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhamphomyia longicauda | Cophinopoda chinensis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Empididae | Asilidae |
| Size | 5-8mm | 20-30 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America | East Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Long-tailed Dance Fly
A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Males present nuptial gifts.
Did You Know?
Females inflate their legs with air bubbles to look larger and more impressive to choosy males in mating swarms.
Japanese Robber Fly
A large East Asian robber fly with powerful raptorial legs. It preys on cicadas and large beetles in montane forests.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few flies capable of overpowering and killing adult cicadas.