Genus Aldrichia

ALDRICHIA: named in honor of J.M. Aldrich, a prominent dipterist and eventual curator of Diptera at the USNM. Alrich provided the holotype of A. ehrmanii to D.W. Coquillett, who described that species. [info supplied by Joel Kits]

body length 8-10 mm

all black; thorax and abdomen covered with sparse long hairs, mostly black but may also be light gray; wings "smoky" dark gray to blackish near costa, becoming clearer toward inner margin and especially near base; second antennal segment as long as the first or longer, and both cylindrical, stout, much thickened, and bristly; third segment flat but much widened in the middle, the apex with some long stiff hairs; marginal cell of wing not usually widened apically; three submarginal cells

adults fly in spring (May and June)

A. ehrmanii adults have been reported on flowers of spring-blooming herbaceous plants, probably feeding on nectar or pollen; species include Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), Long-styled Sweet-cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis), Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), and Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

The specific epithet of A. ehrmanii is misspelled "ehrmanni" by several sources (the spelling in the original description is ehrmanii, named after a Mr. Ehrman who collected the type specimen) [thanks to Joel Kits for this info]