Empis ciliata - Zwarte dansvlieg - Spikvoordeweg - 250509-3 by Ruud de Block
© Ruud de Block, all rights reserved.
This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.
This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.
© WJP Productions 2025
Empis trigramma
Zwarte dansvlieg, april 2025.
Dance fly, grote dansvlieg (Empis tessellata)
Here is a dance fly known as Empis borealis which lacks a common name in English, German as well as in Swedish. The Dutch however, call this one the "wilgendansvlieg" which fittingly translates inte "sallow/willow dance fly" - fittingly as this one has landed on a sallow (Salix caprea) in Tyresta national park to refuel.
This is also from the first trip with the new Handmaid diffuser v1 which uses a fresnel lens layer to produce a more even light.
Another early season find in Åva-Stensjödal. A Empis borealis dance fly. These are sometimes called dagger flies because of the long and sharp piercing mouthparts used to impale small prey.
This one, and a bunch of its buddies were however more interested in pollen and when you want pollen at this time of year in the Stockholm area - sallow (Salix caprea) is one of the few options available. This one looking at me and the camera had however landed on a not yet opened bud so perhaps it was just taking a break.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53705903409/
Dance fly/Empis tessellata. Heempark Madestein, Den Haag 1 mei 2024.
This constellation flew slowly by , and settled on a branch . Google search suggested that they are black dance flies in a complex relationship . Before mating, the male catches a prey . The mating takes place while the female drains the prey.
De grote dansvlieg is een vlieg, die onder andere leeft van andere vliegen en behoort tot de familie dansvliegen. Ze vliegen van mei tot augustus. De grote dansvlieg zuigt vaak nectar uit bloemen. De grote dansvlieg is 11-13 mm lang en heeft een lange, omlaaggerichte zuigsnuit. Wikipedia
Insects in the dunes, insecten in de duinen
Left: dance fly, grote dansvlieg (Empis tessellata)
Right: powdered grass-veneer, duingrasmot (Thisanotia chrysonuchella)
