These are small flies, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) in length. The fly pictured here is entirely black except for the large red eyes. The proboscis is long and pointed. The legs are feathered. The thorax is humped and is covered with sparse dark hairs. The wings are clear with black spots and long, extending beyond the end of the abdomen.
This dance fly is probably common in this area. Look for them sitting on vegetation. The individual shown here in photo 1 was photographed in Fontenelle Forest in early July 2009. Photo 2 was taken at Camp Brewster on 4 July 2014.
Dance flies eat tiny insects and occasionally take nectar (see Photo 2). They are usually seen in swarms flying up and down as in a dance. Males in some genera capture an insect and wrap it in a silk ball and offer it as a nuptial gift to the female. Different species swarm at different times of the day and for different lengths of time. There are about 760 species in North America.
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