Dance Fly?

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Photo#628148

Copyright © 2012 Dick Palmer

Dance Fly? -

Kent East Hill, King County, Washington, USA
April 7, 2012
Size: ~1 cm

There are way too many species of flies. My guess is that this is some kind of soldier fly (Family Stratiomyidae) and is based on following a dichotomous key(1). Castner puts this family under Suborder Brachycera where this website does not. I found some discussion relating to this on this website at http://bugguide.net/node/view/106283#132638.
This is one of my first attempts at photographing insects without a tripod--shooting hand-held. The ISO for all these photos is too high (800 to 1600) and will be much lower for the next ones.
I am curious about two structures I noticed in these photos--in one photo you can see what appears to be some kind of paddle shaped appendage beneath the wing. The other structure that puzzles me is the oddly bent shape of the end of the abdomen. What are these?

Images of this individual: tag all

Contributed by Dick Palmer on 9 April, 2012 - 2:18pm
Last updated 9 April, 2012 - 8:26pm

Moved

Moved from Dance Flies.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 April, 2012 - 8:26pm

Moved for expert attention

Moved from ID Request.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 April, 2012 - 4:43pm

I'd start

in Empididae.

The structure under the wing is a haltere.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 April, 2012 - 2:21pm

Yes, Dance Fly

Thank you for reminding me about halteres. I should have recognized that.
So I found several photos of dance flies at http://www.cirrusimage.com/flies_dance_Rhamphomyia.htm. Looks like a match for a male dance fly Rhamphomyia longicauda. The image of the male even shows the same oddly bent abdomen tip.
I'm going to edit my submission title. Thank you! :)

… Dick Palmer, 9 April, 2012 - 3:02pm

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