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DIPTERA, Empididae (Latreille 1805) -- <Images> & <Juveniles> Description & Statistics
Empidids or "dance flies"
are commonly found in damp places, such as along streams. The adults are predators, and larvae are
either predators or scavengers, living in the soil, decaying vegetation and
wood, under bark, and in water. The
adult flies are all predaceous on other insects of small size, and the larvae
are either predators or scavengers. The complete biological control of
an infestation of Phytomyza aconiti Hendel was reported through
the attack of Tachydromia minuta Meig. on the adult flies
(Whitfield 1925). There is a very
unusual feeding habit associated with mating in the genera Empis, Hilara and Rhampomyia. The male captures its prey, carrying it
about until mating occurs, at which time it is transferred to the
female. Males of several species
envelop the prey in a frothy web before presenting it to the female (Lundbeck
1910, Clausen 1940). References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL
Library ] References: Please refer
to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL Library ] Cole, F.
R. 1969.
The Flies of Western North America.
Univ. Calif. Press, Berkeley & Los
Angeles. 693 p. Frey, R. 1956.
Die Fliegen der Palaearktischen Region 4: 231-6. Kessel, E.
L. 1955. Syst. Zool. 4: 97-104. Kessel, E. L. 1959.
Wasmann J. Biol. 17: 221-30. Melander, A.
L. 1927. Genera Insectorum, Fasc. 185. 434 p. |