Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#533811
Moth Ball mystery fly, side view - Rhagio gracilis - male

Moth Ball mystery fly, side view - Rhagio gracilis - Male
Dave & Shelly Small's yard, Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
June 18, 2011
I've browsed far and wide through the Guide's Diptera, plus paged through my insect field guides (both Eaton/Kaufman and Evans) and Tom Murray's website, and not found a match for this critter. Body like a midge, but antennae and mouthparts very much not.

Images of this individual: tag all
Moth Ball mystery fly, side view - Rhagio gracilis - male Moth Ball mystery fly, dorsal view - Rhagio gracilis - male

Moved
Moved from Flies.

Rhagionidae
Look in Rhagionidae

 
Snipe Fly?
Really? Those mouthparts look very different from what I usually see on the local Chrysopilus and Rhagio, but I'll snoop around....

 
Dialysis?
If it's not a snipe fly try Dialysis, but they don't seem to perch with wings spread like your fly.

 
You were right the first time!
Just surfed the Snipe Flies, and whaddaya know, there's a critter in there called Rhagio gracilis. Photographed in New Hampshire, not so far north of where I took this pic. The photo in the Guide does not show the mouthparts or antennae, but in body shape, color and pattern looks like a carbon copy of this one. Thanks John!

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.