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Photo#990550
Curtonotum helvum

Curtonotum helvum
Hanover, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, USA
July 15, 2014
Size: around 6-7mm
These were collected from a UV light at Hanley Savannah, a restored sand prairie. This is the only Neartic species in its family. The larvae are poorly known, and are thought to parasitize Orthopteran eggs. If so, there were numerous grasshoppers at this site for them to feast on. Reported to be more common in sandy areas near large bodies of water, presumably this has something to due with the larval food source? Also reported to be crepuscular to nocturnal, and present on overcast days.

The strongly-arched thorax is an easy identifying feature. It's more noticeable in living specimens, as their resting posture seems to accentuate the humped back.
Subcosta is complete; costa with humeral and subcostal breaks; oral vibrissae present; arista plumose.

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Curtonotum helvum Curtonotum helvum Curtonotum helvum