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Photo#8956
Dance Fly - Rhamphomyia

Dance Fly - Rhamphomyia
Durham County, North Carolina, USA
April 28, 2004
Found perched on a wall next to a doorway--it could have been attracted to a light, or it could have simply been resting. I photographed it next to a scale, length was just under 8 mm, head to tip of wings, or about 6-7 mm for head to tip of abdomen. I had thought this was Empis, based on Paul Beuks's identification of Stephen Cresswell's photo:



As you can see in the comments below, this is actually Rhamphomyia.

Almost...
You're close, it is genus Rhamphomyia. In Empis the longest radial vein is forked near the wing tip (well visible in Stephen's picture) but the fork is absent here.
Stricking colours! Were those well visible? Not such beauties in Europe, we have to amuse ourselves with black, reddish, brown and yellowish species. ;-)

Paul

http://www.diptera.info

 
Thanks, colors of this fly...
Thanks, I was not sure on Empis, because that genus was not listed at North Carolina State University, but Rhamphomyia was.

I recall the colors being subtle, yet pretty. Like any digital image, it is hard to know just how realistic the output is--depends on your monitor settings, for instance. I routinely use "auto levels" in Photoshop to correct colors and exposure. That tends to enhance color saturation just a bit from the original image. Same as shooting on certain films, such as Fuji Velvia. All digital cameras have their own default settings, of course, which usually includes some increase in saturation. Also depends on light source--that was shot with my Coolpix and, I think, the little fluorescent ring light. That tends to be a bit too cold, and needs some warming correction. So a long answer to a short question--yes, the colors are realistic, though perhaps slightly more saturated than in life.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

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