Long-tailed Dance Fly vs Seaweed Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-tailed Dance Fly | Seaweed Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhamphomyia longicauda | Coelopa frigida |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Empididae | Coelopidae |
| Size | 5-8mm | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Predators | Detritivores |
| Regions | North America | North Atlantic coasts of Europe and 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.
Did You Know?
Females inflate their legs with air bubbles to look larger and more impressive to choosy males in mating swarms.
Seaweed Fly
A coastal fly whose larvae develop in rotting seaweed wrack on beaches. It forms massive swarms on strandlines that can annoy beachgoers.
Did You Know?
It is a model organism for studying sexual selection because larger males win more mating contests.