Tachydromia Dance Fly vs Eastern Calligrapher

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tachydromia Dance Fly Eastern Calligrapher
Scientific Name Tachydromia umbrarum Toxomerus geminatus
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Hybotidae Syrphidae
Size 2-3 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Tachydromia Dance Fly

A tiny wingless dance fly that runs rapidly over tree bark hunting for small arthropods. Despite being flightless, it is an agile predator of mites and springtails on trunk surfaces.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few completely wingless flies, sprinting across tree bark at high speed to catch tiny prey.

Eastern Calligrapher

A tiny hoverfly with intricate black calligraphic markings on a yellow abdomen. It is one of the most abundant flower flies in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Despite its small size, it is one of the most effective aphid predators in North American gardens.