Dance Fly vs Black-winged Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dance Fly | Black-winged Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Empis tessellata | Calopteryx atrata |
| Order | Diptera | Odonata |
| Family | Empididae | Calopterygidae |
| Size | 10-12 mm | 55-68mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dance Fly
A predatory fly in which males present silk-wrapped insect prey as nuptial gifts to females. Mating swarms form elaborate aerial dances over landmarks.
Did You Know?
Some males cheat by wrapping inedible items or empty silk balloons to trick females into mating.
Black-winged Damselfly
A large damselfly where males have entirely black iridescent wings with a metallic blue-green body. Females have dark smoky-brown wings. It inhabits clean streams in East Asia.
Did You Know?
In Japan it is called 'haguro-tonbo' (black-winged dragonfly) and is considered a symbol of good fortune.