#dance flies

When it comes to romantic presents, forget the roses, chocolates, and diamond jewelry-- what ladies really want are silk sacks full of bubbles! At least, that's what female Empis snoddyi flies want, and the males happily oblige. When mating season rolls around, males produce silk from a special organ in their leg and weave it into a balloon made of hundreds of silk bubbles. And, of course, the larger the balloon, the more females the male will attract.

here's a pair of mating Hybos, looking as ridiculous as a couple as they do on their own. twice the goofiness, twice the recognizable shape, and thankfully none of the antisocial behavior

[PHOTOS TAKEN: MARCH 17TH, 2025 | Image IDs: Two photos of a small dance fly on a yellow tool handle, looking to be eating an even smaller fly, likely a drain fly/moth fly /End IDs.]

in a group of animals known for ridiculous shapes (flies), dance flies like Hybos here are definitely some of the highlights. these tiny creatures would be unnoticeable when they swarm from late summer through autumn if not for their numbers, and with enough patience you're bound to find one among dozens that will pose for a photo

they might look stupid from the side but it's nothing compared to the frontal view. accursed entity. ghoulish nerd