Long-tailed Dance Fly vs Anchor Stink Bug

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Long-tailed Dance Fly Anchor Stink Bug
Scientific Name Rhamphomyia longicauda Stiretrus anchorago
Order Diptera Hemiptera
Family Empididae Pentatomidae
Size 5-8mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Predators Predators
Regions North America North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Long-tailed Dance Fly

A small dark fly where females inflate their legs with air to appear larger during mating swarms. Males present nuptial gifts.

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Did You Know?

Females inflate their legs with air bubbles to look larger and more impressive to choosy males in mating swarms.

Anchor Stink Bug

A predatory stink bug that is one of North America's most colorful pentatomids, with highly variable patterns of red, blue, black, and white. It preys on beetle larvae, caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects.

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Did You Know?

It comes in dozens of strikingly different color patterns, making specimens from the same population look like different species.