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Picture-winged Fly

uncommon

Picture-winged Fly

Ceroxys urticae

Habitat
Damp meadows and nettle patches across Europe
Body length
7 mm
Order
Diptera · Ulidiidae

Weird but real

Wings have dark markings that mimic the silhouettes of jumping spider legs. When threatened, it waves them like spider arms to scare the spider off.

Why it's cool

Fights its predator by impersonating it. The fly's wing patterns are basically a spider costume worn 24/7. Mutual confusion as defense.

Photographs

Ceroxys urticae.
Foto: Jonn Leffmann · CC BY 3.0 · source
Ceroxys urticae
AfroBrazilian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source