 |
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
|
|
|
Snipe Fly - Rhagio mystaceus |
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 |
|
