Balloon Fly - Hilara maura

Description

Length about 7 mm. There are around 60 British species in this genus and identification is difficult, for this reason images placed in red boxes can only be said to be representative of Hilara maura.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Can be seen swarming over water and marshy areas in the summer months.

When to see it

Best from May to July.

Life History

In the insect world males often present the females with a prenuptial gift of food, usually a small fly, but the males of the Hilara spp. go one step further and gift wrap the present in silk that is exuded from the swollen glands on their front legs. While the female is pre-occupied with unwrapping her present, the male takes the opportunity to mate.

UK Status

They are common throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known but probably fairly frequent.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Flies
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Diptera
Family:
Empididae
Records on NatureSpot:
13
First record:
04/05/2015 (Nightingale, Kate)
Last record:
17/05/2022 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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