Empidinae

Empidinae, also called dance flies,^[1] are a subfamily of empidoid flies. They belong to the Eremoneura, a lineage of flies whose larvae pass through three stages. The name “dance flies” comes from their mating swarms, formed by males or, in some species, by females; in many cases males present captured prey to females during these gatherings.^[2]They are mainly predatory flies like most of their relatives, and generally small to medium-sized. Most species are flower visitors and they can be effective pollinators.^[3]

Empidinae
Male Empis livida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Empididae
Subfamily:	Empidinae
Genera
Several, see text

Description

Empis stercorea

Most dance fly species perform lek mating, where males give courtship gifts to females.^[1] About a third of such species also have sex-specific markings, which include pinnate leg scales, darkened or enlarged wings, and inflatable abdominal air sacs.^[1]

Genera

Most species of the Empidinae have long been placed in the large genera Empis and Rhamphomyia, separated by whether a particular wing vein (R4+5) forks near the tip.^[2] Earlier work on Patagonian species also recognised smaller Neotropical genera, including Sphicosa, Clinorhampha, Macrostomus, Porphyrochroa, Lamprempis, and Opeatocerata.^[2]

In South America the Empidinae fall into two broad sets: an Andean group in temperate Chile and Argentina, which shares features with Australian and New Zealand taxa, and a warmer-climate group in the wider Neotropics that includes Macrostomus, Porphyrochroa, Lamprempis, Opeatocerata, and some Empis.^[2] Many Neotropical species remain undescribed, especially in Porphyrochroa. Recent taxonomy has revalidated Porphyrochroa as distinct from Macrostomus and added numerous new species in both.^[2]

• Afroempis Smith, 1969^[4]
• Allochrotus Collin, 1933^[5]
• Amictoides Bezzi, 1909^[6]
• Aplomera Macquart, 1838
• Atrichopleura Bezzi, 1909^[6]
• Bandella Bickel, 2002^[7]
• Calohilara Frey, 1952^[8]
• Clinorhampha Collin, 1933^[5]
• Cunomyia Bickel, 1998^[9]
• Deuteragonista Philippi, 1865^[10]
• Empidadelpha Collin, 1928^[11]
• Empis Linnaeus, 1758^[12]
• Gynatoma Collin, 1928^[11]
• Hilara Meigen, 1822^[12]
• Hilarempis Bezzi, 1905^[13]
• Hilarigona Collin, 1933^[5]
• Hybomyia Plant, 1995^[14]
• Hystrichonotus Collin, 1933^[5]
• Lamprempis Wheeler & Melander, 1901^[15]
• Macrostomus Wiedemann, 1817
• Opeatocerata Melander, 1928^[16]
• Pasitrichotus Collin, 1933^[5]
• Porphyrochroa Melander, 1928^[16]
• Rhamphella Malloch, 1930^[17]
• Rhamphomyia Meigen, 1822^[12]
• Sphicosa Philippi, 1865^[10]
• Thinempis Bickel, 1996^[18]
• Trichohilara Collin, 1933^[5]

Distribution

Empidinae are especially diverse in the Neotropical region. Fourteen genera are currently recognized worldwide, twelve of them recorded in the Neotropics and seven found only there.^[2]