Dance Fly with Feathered Legs vs Red Soldier Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dance Fly with Feathered Legs | Red Soldier Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhamphomyia sulcata | Rhagonycha fulva |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Empididae | Cantharidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dance Fly with Feathered Legs
A small dance fly where females have distinctive feathered or pennate leg scales used to attract males. Females inflate their abdomen to appear larger during swarming displays.
Did You Know?
In a rare reversal, females are the ornamented sex, using feathered legs and inflated abdomens to compete for males.
Red Soldier Beetle
A very common soldier beetle in Europe with orange-red elytra tipped in black. It is one of the most familiar beetles on hogweed and other umbellifer flowers.
Did You Know?
In the UK it is commonly known as the bloodsucker beetle, though it is completely harmless to humans.