Dance Fly

Bicellaria species

Description

Body length 3mm. A very small black fly with large red eyes. The wings sometimes reflect red, but are normally transparent.

Habitat

Woodland edge, hedgerows and damp margins. Both the adults and larvae are predators on other small insect species, the adults catching flies and the larvae catching small invertebrates in the mud or soil.

Status and distribution

Probably common but under recorded in southern Britain and Nottinghamshire. Recorded occasionally at Netherfield Lagoons.

Best time to see

May to August.