Armed with a Dagger - _TNY_0760
The Empididae family used to be known as dance flies, but since that name was also used for the Hybotidae family their alternate name "dagger flies" is the proper one these days. Balloon flies is another name used for these.
The dagger part is in reference to the long mouth parts which are used to pierce their prey.
I often see Empididae flies confused with robber flies (Asilidae), but those have got much shorter snouts.
Armed with a Dagger - _TNY_0760
The Empididae family used to be known as dance flies, but since that name was also used for the Hybotidae family their alternate name "dagger flies" is the proper one these days. Balloon flies is another name used for these.
The dagger part is in reference to the long mouth parts which are used to pierce their prey.
I often see Empididae flies confused with robber flies (Asilidae), but those have got much shorter snouts.