Hilara maura, is a member of the Empidae family of flies which predate on a large variety of arthropods ranging from Coleoptera (beetles) to Acari (mites). Because of their predatory activity, they are important in the biological control of insect pests.
Hilara maura is one of the species where the male fly wraps its prey in a ball of silk threads produced by the swollen glands on the front legs. This so-called ‘balloon’ (which gives rise to one of its common names) is then offered as a ‘nuptial gift’ to the females present in their mating swarms where the males fly up and down in a kind of dance. Females appear to select a male with the most enticing offering. Sometimes, however, the ‘gift’ may simply be a leaf, a stone, or even an empty ball of silk instead of a food item!
This is a focus-stacked composite image.
