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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
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Photo#59245
Xylophagid flies mating - Rachicerus - male - female

Xylophagid flies mating - Rachicerus - Male Female
Fews Ford, Eno River State Park, Orange County, North Carolina, USA
June 18, 2006
Size: 12 mm
Thes flies were hyperkinetic, scurrying along the ground, apparently trying to take off while coupled. As they got close, they would try to climb my leg. Size estimated. See comments on identification--thanks. These are possibly Rachicerus fulvicollis, since that is the only species listed at North Carolina State University. What are probably the details of that very specimen are listed by Brimley, p. 329, noting it from Raleigh (about 30 miles from the site of this photo) in June (1).

Size estimated at about 12 mm for the female.

Images of this individual: tag all
Xylophagid flies mating - Rachicerus - male - female Xylophagid flies--detail of antennae - Rachicerus - male - female

Xylo
You can see on the male the multisegmented antenna with the moth-like serrations. Close up please.

 
You asked for it...
You got it--a detail of antennae:

They are really something--not what I normally expect of dipteran antennae.

They look like
genus Rachicerus in family Xylophagidae - Chen

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