Yellow Dance Fly vs Southern Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Yellow Dance Fly Southern Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Empis stercorea Philonthus spinipes
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Empididae Staphylinidae
Size 6-8 mm 8-11 mm
Habitat Hedgerows Grasslands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe Mediterranean Europe, North Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Yellow Dance Fly

A medium-sized dance fly with a yellowish body commonly found on spring flowers. Males present prey items as mating gifts. An important pollinator of spring flowers.

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Did You Know?

Important early-season pollinators that visit spring flowers while also hunting small insects on them.

Southern Rove Beetle

A shiny, black rove beetle with distinctive spiny hind tibiae. It is a fast-running predator commonly found under stones and debris in drier, warmer habitats of southern Europe.

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Did You Know?

The spiny tibiae that give this species its name are used as weapons in combat with rival males over territory and mates.