Species Rainieria antennaepes

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Range · Remarks · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

beautiful insect - Rainieria antennaepes

Diptera unidentified - Rainieria antennaepes

Fly pair - Rainieria antennaepes - male - female

Rainieria antennaepes? - Rainieria antennaepes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Diptera (Flies)

No Taxon ("Acalyptratae")

Superfamily Nerioidea

Family Micropezidae (Stilt-legged Flies)

Subfamily Taeniapterinae

Genus Rainieria

Species antennaepes (Rainieria antennaepes)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Rainieria antennaepes (Say 1823)

Explanation of Names

Species name antennaepes refers to the forelegs held up in the manner of antennae (see Remarks).

Size

4(?)-10 mm (1)

Range

NA east of the Rockies (NS-FL to AB-TX)(2)

Remarks

Say, in the original description, states:

The anterior pair of feet, when compared with the others, are very short, and being extended before the head, considerably elevated above the plane on which the insect moves, and also being constantly vibrated, they assume the appearance of antennae. The whiteness of the anterior tarsi is very distinct and characteristic.

See Also

Taeniaptera trivittata and the southern Calobatina geometra, which both look similar. They can be distinguished from photos as follows (Chris Angell):

Eyes: Taeniaptera sp. - maroon & striped; Rainieria antennaepes - bright red, unstriped; Calobatina geometra - dark, unstriped

Body shape: Taeniaptera sp. - less slender; Rainieria antennaepes - more slender; Calobatina geometra - more slender

Wing pattern: Taeniaptera sp. - a circular, bulls-eye like pattern; Rainieria antennaepes - a triangular dark spot; Calobatina geometra - usually unmarked, sometimes like R. antennaepes

Forelegs: Taeniaptera trivittata - first tarsomere dark, remaining tarsomeres light (apical tarsomere dark in the rare southern Taeniaptera lasciva); Rainieria antennaepes - first tarsomere white, sometimes with apical tarsomere dark; Calobatina geometra - first tarsomere white, last 2-3 tarsomeres dark

Print References

Say, T. 1823. Descriptions of dipterous insects of the United States. J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 3: 9-104 (BHL link to description)

Works Cited

1.	National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders & Related Species of North America Arthur V. Evans. 2007. Sterling.

2.	Thompson F.C., Pape T., Evenhuis N.L. (2013) Systema Dipterorum, Version 1.5

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 23 June, 2006 - 1:59pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Chuck Entz, v belov, Chris Angell
Last updated 20 July, 2022 - 7:13am

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