Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
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
BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
Details...
 
Photos from the last gathering (Minnesota 2007)

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Stiletto Flies (Therevidae)

Family Therevidae - Stiletto Flies

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Habitat · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
white Stiletto Fly black and grey Stiletto Fly - Ozodiceromyia A new kind of fly for me. - Ozodiceromyia Snipe Fly - Ozodiceromyia argentata unknown fly - Pherocera What type of fly is this? - Thereva Glacial Lake Fly - Thereva - male Stiletto Fly - Ozodiceromyia
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Diptera (Flies)
No Taxon ("Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora))
Superfamily Asiloidea
Family Therevidae (Stiletto Flies)
Explanation of Names
Common name refers to narrow, tapering abdomens. (1)
Size
4-12mm (1)
Identification
Medium, usually gray flies with moderately tapering abdomen. Five posterior cells with the fourth sometimes closed. Somewhat elongated 3rd antennal segment. (2)
See also "A Key to the Nearctic Genera of Therevidae" (link in Internet References below)
Habitat
Uncommon, but usually in open areas. (2) Usually seen resting on foliage or flowers in sunny areas. (1)
See Also
These flies are similar to robber flies (3) but without the beard, have more slender legs and no depression between the eyes. (1)
Print References
Milne, p. 655 (1)
Borror & White, p. 276 (2)
Internet References
Page at University of Illinois - Urbana/Champaign
A Key to the Nearctic Genera of Therevidae
Works Cited
1.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
By Lorus and Margery Milne
2.A Field Guide to Insects
By Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson
3.Robber Flies
Contributed by john and jane balaban on 12 September, 2004 - 5:01pm
Additional contributions by Mike Boone, Robin McLeod, Hartmut Wisch
Last updated 18 September, 2007 - 12:20pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2008 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact