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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Leptogastrinae » Psilonyx » Psilonyx annulatus
Photo#81915
Tiny Skinny Robber - Psilonyx annulatus - Psilonyx annulatus
Copyright © 2006 Stephen Cresswell

Tiny Skinny Robber - Psilonyx annulatus - Psilonyx annulatus
Near Ruraldale, Upshur County, West Virginia, USA
October 1, 2006
Size: 4.2 mm
Watching this tiny insect from a distance as it flew, I wondered if it was a tiny wasp. It didn't seem to be a strong flier. But when I got it in the viewfinder and saw the eyes, I knew it was a fly and it immediately reminded me of those skinny robbers whose pictures I had seen on BugGuide.

I believe the genus is Tipulogaster; further ID help would be appreciated. & Is this a female?

Images of this individual: tag all
Tiny Skinny Robber - Psilonyx annulatus - Psilonyx annulatus Tiny Skinny Robber - Psilonyx annulatus
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Contributed by Stephen Cresswell on 7 October, 2006 - 6:57am
Last updated 3 November, 2009 - 4:49pm

Moved
Moved from Psilonyx.
… john and jane balaban, 3 November, 2009 - 4:49pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Leptogastrinae.
… norman and cheryl lavers, 3 November, 2009 - 8:30am login or register to post comments

The prominent orange band
on the hind femur, plus the banded hind tibiae, make this Psilonyx annulatus. Tipulogaster would have a shiny brown-red "lacquered" cap on the thorax.
… norman and cheryl lavers, 3 November, 2009 - 8:29am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Tipulogaster.
… john and jane balaban, 15 April, 2007 - 5:03pm login or register to post comments

Green with envy!
Fantastic photo! Recording the size adds tremendously to the value. We are going out looking for Robbers Sunday and this genus/species will be uppermost on my mind. I had no idea that they were this small.
Thanks,
Gayle
… Gayle and Jeanell Strickland, 7 October, 2006 - 9:20am login or register to post comments

 
Tiny size
Yes, I agree, I didn't know they were this small, either.

I'm convinced the only reason I spotted it is that it was in the last hour of sunlight, very low slanting rays, and everything in the air was very lit up, including pollen, dust particles, etc.

This fly was lit up despite its tiny size. Not sure it would have been so noticeable at noon.
… Stephen Cresswell, 13 October, 2006 - 7:03am login or register to post comments

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