Dark-edged Bee-fly vs Balloon Dance Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dark-edged Bee-fly | Balloon Dance Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombylius major discolor | Hilara maura |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Empididae |
| Size | 8-12mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Asia | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Dark-edged Bee-fly
A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.
Did You Know?
Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.
Balloon Dance Fly
A dance fly famous for its elaborate mating ritual in which males present silk-wrapped prey gifts to females. Males spin a silk balloon around a captured insect before offering it during aerial mating swarms.
Did You Know?
Males that wrap their prey gifts in the most elaborate silk balloons are preferred by females during mating dances.