Yellow Dance Fly vs Ant-decapitating Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Yellow Dance Fly | Ant-decapitating Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Empis stercorea | Pseudacteon tricuspis |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Empididae | Phoridae |
| Size | 6-8 mm | 1-2 mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Parasitoids |
| Regions | Europe | South America, introduced to North America for biocontrol |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Yellow Dance Fly
A medium-sized dance fly with a yellowish body commonly found on spring flowers. Males present prey items as mating gifts. An important pollinator of spring flowers.
Did You Know?
Important early-season pollinators that visit spring flowers while also hunting small insects on them.
Ant-decapitating Fly
A minute parasitoid fly that targets fire ants by injecting eggs into their bodies. The developing larva migrates to the ant's head, eventually causing it to fall off.
Did You Know?
The larva releases enzymes that dissolve the ant's head contents, and the head eventually falls off to serve as a pupation chamber.