Natural England

Natural England

Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

© 2006-2010. Database provided and managed on behalf of Natural England by The Plant Press. Designed and implemented by Ideal Integration Ltd

 

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Dance fly - Empis tessellata - Family: Empididae

Dance fly - Empis tessellataDance fly - Empis tessellata
© Roger Key/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

This large, drab green-brown bristly fly with brown-tinged wings has a very conspicuous down pointing 'beak' which it uses to pierce its prey.

The dance fly is frequently seen on open-structured flowers such as hawthorn blossom and on those of members of the daisy and umbellifer families.

Food

Predatory on other flower-visiting flies and other insects.

Plants

Cow parsley, Hawthorn, Hogweed, Michaelmas daisy, Midland hawthorn, Wild angelica, Wild carrot

Prey

Aphids, Bugs, Flies, Mosquitoes and midges

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