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July 10-12, 2009
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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Tabanomorpha » Snipe Flies (Rhagionidae) » Chrysopilus » Golden-backed Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus thoracicus)

Species Chrysopilus thoracicus - Golden-backed Snipe Fly

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))

Infraorder Tabanomorpha

Family Rhagionidae (Snipe Flies)

Genus Chrysopilus

Species thoracicus (Golden-backed Snipe Fly)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Chrysopilus thoracicus Fabricius, 1805

Explanation of Names

Genus name Chrysopilus means "golden-hair" and thoracicus refers to the golden patch on the thorax, presumably.

Size

10 mm (approx.)

Identification

About the size of a house fly with distinctive smoky-colored wings and gold patch on upper thorax.

Range

Eastern North America

Habitat

Deciduous woodlands

Season

Spring. April-May (North Carolina).

Food

Adults are alleged to be predatory on other insects, but they may feed little (observations by BugGuide members).

Life Cycle

Details unknown. This fly is observed in early to mid-spring perched quietly on low vegetation in deciduous woodlands.

Remarks

The coloration (dark wings, gold thorax)is perhaps mimicry of a hymenopteran. Another Chrysopilus species (see Milne and Milne, below) appears to be a very good hymenopteran mimic, with a prominently striped abdomen.

Print References

Brimley, p. 330 (1)

Eaton and Kaufman, p. 286-287, color photo (2)

Lutz, Field Book of American Insects (3)

Marshall, p. 445--color photo (4)

Milne and Milne illustrate a related Chrysopilus species, the common name "Golden-backed Snipe Fly" (5)

Internet References

Giff Beaton--scroll down page for Snipe Flies

Works Cited

1.	Insects of North Carolina By C.S. Brimley

2.	Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America By Eric Eaton, Kenn Kaufman

3.	Field Book of Insects of the United States and Canada, Aiming to Answer Common Questions, By Frank Eugene Lutz

4.	Insects: Their Natural History And Diversity: With a Photographic Guide to Insects of Eastern North America By Stephen A. Marshall

5.	National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders By Lorus and Margery Milne

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Last updated 28 October, 2009 - 8:00pm

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