Tachydromia Dance Fly vs Narrow-banded Hoverfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tachydromia Dance Fly Narrow-banded Hoverfly
Scientific Name Tachydromia umbrarum Meliscaeva auricollis
Order Diptera Diptera
Family Hybotidae Syrphidae
Size 2-3 mm 7-10 mm
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, Asia
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.

Narrow-banded Hoverfly

A small hoverfly with narrow yellow crescent markings on a dark abdomen. It is among the first hoverflies to appear in spring.

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Did You Know?

Adults can be seen flying as early as February in mild winters.