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balloon fly
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balloon fly
balloon fly Balloon fly, illustration by John Curtis, 19th century.

balloon fly

insect
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Also known as: Acroceridae, small-headed fly
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Also called:
small-headed fly
Related Topics:
Brachycera
See all related content

balloon fly, (family Acroceridae), any member of a family of flies in the insect order Diptera that are named for their swollen abdomen. It is also characterized by an extremely small head and a humped back. Some adults have a slender proboscis (feeding organ) and feed from flowers, whereas others lack a proboscis and probably do not feed in their adult stage. Eggs are laid on leaves and flowers. Upon hatching, the larvae are small and flat. They eventually come in contact with a spider that they board. They then burrow into the spider’s body, where they feed as internal parasites.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.