Did You Know?
- Dance Flies get their name from the “dancing” motions they make while in mating swarms
- There are over 3000 known species of Dance Flies worldwide – that is a lot of dancing!
- Some species have a sharp, pointed mouth and as a result these insect are often called Dagger Flies
Where Do You Get Silk Wrapping Paper?
The logical place to start when studying Dance Flies is obviously the dancing part. I mean, how often do you see a fly dancing? What I am about to tell you is going to blow your mind (I mean it). Dance Flies may have one of the most interesting courtship patterns of all insects. While it varies with species the typical courtship display starts by the male fly capturing (but not eating) an insect that he will wrap up in silk (after all, presents should always be wrapped….even if your are a fly). So where does the dancing part come in?
Well, once the male Dance Fly has the present wrapped up they will form into an aerial, mating swarm composed of many, many other males (with gifts in hand). This swarm will buzz around, which gives the appearance of dancing. All of these fancy dance moves attract the female, so she will fly straight into the swarm and select a mate. The lucky winner will then present the female with his silk-wrapped insect that she will consume during mating. I guess it is important to keep your energy levels high. I told you their courtship patterns would blow your mind. Can you believe that the males actually have to get a gift for their female friends?
Not Your Typical Carnivore
So by now, you may be thinking that Dance Flies are predatory insects; however, in most species the adult Dance Fly actually feeds on nectar (the larvae stage is definitely predatory though). It is only during mating that they decide to turn carnivorous. Interestingly enough, this actually makes the female dependant on the male, who provides her with enough protein to complete the development of her eggs. At the end of the day, this strange behaviour actually increases the importance of mate selection and ultimately makes the species as a whole much stronger. Don’t you just love the way nature works?
