dance fly

(Rhamphomyia vittata)

Conservation Status
dance fly (Rhamphomyia vittata)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Rhamphomyia vittata is a small dance fly. It occurs in the United States in Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Adults are found in late spring and early summer in moist areas along the edges of fresh water. Larvae are found in moist soil.

Adults are small, 5 16 to (8 to 10 mm) in length.

The head is small and more or less spherical. The neck is long and distinct. The compound eyes are large and bright orange. The mouthparts are extended into a long, rigid proboscis. This is the attribute that gives the family Empididae its scientific name. It is from the Greek and translates to “beak fly”. The antennae have three segments. The terminal segment has a long, slender style at the tip.

The thorax is large and bulbous, making the insect appear hump backed. It is bright orange with two longitudinal black stripes.

The abdomen is long and tapered. On the male, there is a conspicuous genital capsule under the abdomen. It is not folded forward.

The legs are long and slender.

The wings are clear.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5 16 to (8 to 10 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Moist areas along the edges of fresh water

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

May to June

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

Adults form mating swarms, with different species swarming at different times of day. The male will capture an insect and offer it as a gift to a potential mate.

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

 

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

 
  6/26/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Diptera (flies)  
 

Suborder

Brachycera  
 

Infraorder

Asilomorpha (Orthorrhapha)

 
 

Superfamily

Empidoidea (dance flies, long-legged flies, and allies)  
 

Family

Empididae (dance flies)  
 

Subfamily

Empidinae  
  Tribe Empidini  
 

Genus

Rhamphomyia  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

Few of the more than 620 described species in the genus Rhamphomyia have a common name. The genus itself does not have a common name. The common name for the family Empididae is dance flies, and it is applied here for convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Term

Definition

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    dance fly (Rhamphomyia vittata)      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

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  Alfredo Colon
8/13/2019

Location: Woodbury, MN

dance fly (Rhamphomyia vittata)  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

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Created: 6/26/2022

Last Updated:

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