Empidinae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Empidinae | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Male Empis livida | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Empididae |
| Subfamily: | Empidinae |
| Genera | |
|
Several, see text | |
Empidinae, also called dance flies,[1] are a subfamily of empidoid flies. They belong to the Eremoneura, a lineage of flies whose larvae pass through three stages. The name “dance flies” comes from their mating swarms, formed by males or, in some species, by females; in many cases males present captured prey to females during these gatherings.[2] They are mainly predatory flies like most of their relatives, and generally small to medium-sized. Most species are flower visitors and they can be effective pollinators.[3]
Most dance fly species perform lek mating, where males give courtship gifts to females.[1] About a third of such species also have sex-specific markings, which include pinnate leg scales, darkened or enlarged wings, and inflatable abdominal air sacs.[1]
