Japanese Burrowing Mayfly vs Yellow-legged Dance Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Burrowing Mayfly Yellow-legged Dance Fly
Scientific Name Ephemera japonica Empis livida
Order Ephemeroptera Diptera
Family Ephemeridae Empididae
Size 15-25 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Japan, East Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Burrowing Mayfly

A large burrowing mayfly native to Japanese rivers and streams. It emerges in large numbers during early summer evenings.

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Did You Know?

It is culturally significant in Japan, where mayfly emergence has been celebrated in poetry for centuries.

Yellow-legged Dance Fly

A medium-sized dance fly with yellowish legs, a grayish body, and a distinctive long proboscis. It forms conspicuous mating swarms near streams and in sheltered clearings.

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Did You Know?

In some dance fly species, males wrap worthless objects in silk to trick females into mating, a form of sexual deception.