Species Chauliodes rastricornis - Spring Fishfly

Chauliodes rastricornis Rambur, 1842

Genus reported 21-46 mm body length (not including wings), perhaps smaller than C. pectinicornis. Arnett, p. 345, gives length as 30-50 mm. (1)

Compare C. pectinicornis. Head and pronotum have dark markings on light brown background, as opposed to yellowish markings on dark brown background of C. pectinicornis. Antennae of female serrate, of male, pectinate. So, apparently, a Chauliodes with serrate antennae should be a female C. rastricornis. Note earlier flight (spring) of rastricornis in most of east. C. pectinicornis typically flies in summer.

The antennae of females are almost linear, with just a little jagginess on the edges, i.e., serrate (saw-like):

The comb-like, (pectinate) antennae of the males are quite obvious, see, for instance:

Eastern North America. More common in subtropical Florida than C. pectinicornis.

Near calm bodies of water with detritus.

Adults typically fly late spring: March?-May (North Carolina), April-May (West Virginia). Seen into early June in New England (Massachusetts--guide photo). Further south, much of year (Florida).

Adult may not feed, but there are reports of Chauliodes at moth bait.

Larvae omnivorous: detritivores, herbivores, predators. See account for C. pectinicornis.

The specific name "rastricornis" means "rake-horned". I've coined the common name based on seasonal occurence.