Cardiacephala is a genus of Neotropical stilt-legged flies (Micropezidae) widely recognized for their exceptionally long legs and striking, ant-like body shapes. This specialized mimicry helps them blend into tropical foliage and deter visual predators. While their larvae develop inside decomposing plant matter or manure, adult flies are active, generalist feeders. They hunt soft-bodied insects, sip nectar and rotting fruit juices for energy, and regularly visit dung and decaying vegetation to extract crucial moisture and minerals. I met this colorful fly with beautifully patterned wings in the city park of Tena, nestled in the Amazon region of Ecuador.