Amidst the lush green foliage, there exists a tiny life form that often escapes our human notice. Eumerus figurans, a beautiful, bee-like fly belonging to the Syrphidae family. At a glance, its colors and body shape bear a striking resemblance to a bee. However, two key features set them apart, the antennae and the wings. This fly possesses tiny antennae with rounded tips, whereas bees have long antennae. As for the wings, the fly I photographed has a single pair, while bees have two pairs. These two characteristics make it very easy to distinguish between them, even though their color patterns and body postures are remarkably similar. Its entire body is covered in dense, fine hairs, further enhancing its resemblance to a bee.
Despite its uncanny resemblance to a bee, this fly does not sting, it lacks a stinger entirely. It is perfectly safe to approach without fear of being stung. I discovered it "dancing" upon a blade of grass. Its movements were incredibly agile, reminiscent of a seasoned dancer. It continued its dance, completely unconcerned by my presence nearby, acting as if nothing unusual were happening around it. During this dance, it didn't just move its legs; occasionally, it would move its head as well. It was a fascinating sight rarely do I encounter an insect that dances in such a way. A free bit of entertainment to start the day, simply perfect.
2% of the prizes from this post are donated to ecency
| Latin name | Eumerus figurans |
|---|---|
| Observation date | 24 Agt, 2026 |
| Camera used | realme 7i |
| Photographers | @reachdreams |
| Location | Aceh, Indonesia |
| Link to original community |
|---|
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/394091064
| Latitude | Longitude | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 4.695135 | 96.7493993 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=4.695135&mlon=96.7493993 |
