Calliopum is a genus of tiny, glossy flies (family: Lauxaniidae) found across Europe and Asia. Measuring just 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, these miniature insects sport shiny black or metallic bronze-green bodies that catch the light as they zip through flower-rich meadows and hedgerows. Their grubs lead diverse lives underground and inside plants—some tunnel harmlessly through clover stems, while others help decompose fallen leaves. Telling the 27 species in this group apart is no easy task; scientists often need a microscope to examine their microscopic bristle patterns! I met this tiny fly in sunny meadows close to my home in Sweden. I’m not sure if I met the same of different species, but each time they looked similar and very cute!