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Snipe Fly - Rhagio mystaceus Order Diptera / Suborder Brachycera / Infraorder Tabanomorpha / Family Rhagionidae -- snipe flies / Genus Rhagio Rhagio mystaceus (Macquart, 1840) -- common snipe fly, down-looker fly Live adult male fly photographed at Winfield, Illinois on shagbark hickory (Carya ovata). Length: 9mm Wingspan: 15mm |
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| I frequently find these flies sitting head-down on the
trunks of oak and hickory trees. Indeed, now I find they are
also called "down-looker" flies. They are generally easily
approachable and readily pose for pictures - that is, unless you
are wearing deet-based insect repellent. Then, you'll be lucky
to get within 10 feet of one. Our sources say adult flies
feed on nectar but some are predators - no one seems sure and
nobody is saying what is preyed upon, so I'll leave it to you to
research. The Insects of Cedar Creek reference: Rhagio mystaceus. Genus identity thanks to Paul Beuk at Diptera.info |
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