Other Common Names
sometimes called 'downlooker flies' because of the characteristic resting stance
(1)Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Classification has been unstable
(2)
Recently split into 3 families, incl.
Bolbomyiidae and the exotic Austroleptidae (Chile, Australia; 8 spp.) with a single genus each
(3)
Explanation of Names
Rhagionidae Latreille 1892
Numbers
~100 spp. in 8 genera in our area; worldwide, >750 spp. in 17 extant genera arranged in 4 subfamilies, all represented in our area as follows:
(3)
Arthrocerinae: a single genus worldwide, Arthroceras, with 4 spp. in our area, 8 spp. total
Chrysopilinae: 3 genera worldwide, one very large and nearly cosmopolitan (
Chrysopilus) + 2 small genera restricted to the Philippines
Rhagioninae: 5 genera worldwide, of which
Rhagio (Holarctic + some Oriental) is by far the largest, 2 restricted to the southern hemisphere, one to tropical Asia, and one to Mexico (
Sierramyia)
Spaniinae: 6 genera (with ~80 spp.) worldwide, of which one genus is endemic to Australia and the remaining five are all Holarctic and represented in our area by 43 spp., incl.
Symphoromyia (by far the largest),
Litoleptis, Omphalophora, Ptiolina, and
Spania
Identification
Head somewhat rounded; abdomen relatively long and tapering, legs rather long. The body may be bare or covered with short hairs. Most snipe flies are brownish or gray, but some are black with spots or stripes of white, yellow or green.
NB: In couplet 1 of the key in
(4), the 2 and 5 are backwards.
(5) Range
Worldwide; less than half of our spp. are eastern
(6)Habitat
Adults common in woods, esp. near moist places, usually found on foliage or grass, resting head down; larvae in moist meadow soil, moss, decaying wood (incl. galleries of wood-boring insects), under bark, occasionally in water
(6)(7)Food
adults and larvae prey on small insects. Most do not bite, but
Symphoromyia females are common biting pests in the west
(8)(7)Remarks
This family contains some of the most primitive extant Brachycera, and may have diversified ca. 170 mya