Empis lutea
This record describes Empis lutea (species). Recorded family: Empididae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
c7mm. Bright yellow and without any dark stripes on the thorax. The first antennal segment is much longer than the second. The thorax is glossy - without any dusting to make it dull. The round head is all yellow without any dark markings. Empis concolor is similar but has a dark patch on the head behind the eyes. If not identified by a recognised expert, good photo is required showing the key characters and/or a describe how it was identified. No additional images available for this species.
Wikipedia reference for Empis lutea: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empis_lutea.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Seasonal Activity
May to August
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Empis lutea. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
