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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Empidoidea » Dance Flies (Empididae)
Photo#22266
Dancing fly with nuptial gift - male
Copyright © 2005 Mary Ann Brittain

Dancing fly with nuptial gift - Male
Piedmont County, North Carolina, USA
June 25, 2005
Size: small midge-like insect
Image taken by a coworker here at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences. She witnessed a swarm of small flies, some of which carried these small sacs. Eric at Allexperts.com identified this as a member of the family Empididae. He suggested we submit this pic for your files. Any additional information is appreciated.
Contributed by Mike Dunn on 28 June, 2005 - 3:48pm
Last updated 7 March, 2008 - 5:17pm

What a nuptial gift!
Moved it to guide. See the comments on nuptial gifts under image #21605. We are all learning here. Don't forget to goggle it. I learned a lot that way.
… Beatriz Moisset, 29 June, 2005 - 7:36am

Credit for photo
The photographers name is Mary Ann Brittain. She is Director of an outdoor education facility called Prairie Ridge, part of the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC.
… Mike Dunn, 28 June, 2005 - 7:25pm

Amazing!
That is just amazing. I can't believe how big that balloon is! Thank you so much for posting this. We should probably have your colleague's name so we can attach proper credit.
… Eric R. Eaton, 28 June, 2005 - 6:26pm

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