''Chrysopilus asiliformis'', the 'little snipefly', is a species of 'snipe flies' (family
Rhagionidae
Rhagionidae or snipe flies are a small family of flies.
They get their name from the similarity of their often prominent proboscis that looks like the beak of a snipe.
Description
Rhagionidae are medium-sized to large flies with slender bodies a ...
).
[ ]
Subspecies
Subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
include:
*''Chrysopilus asiliformis'' var. ''asiliformis''
(Preyssler, 1791)
*''Chrysopilus asiliformis'' var. ''meridiomalis''
Bezzi, 1898
Distribution
This widespread species is present in most of
Europe.
Habitat
This species inhabits various environments, as scrubs, woodland edges, wetlands and gardens.
[Nature Spot]
/ref>
Description
The adults grow up to long. This fragile-looking fly shows a slender body. Head, thorax and abdomen are grey dusted, with dark stripes on the abdomen, without bristles The legs are rather long and thin, with brownish-yellow femora. The wings are hyaline with a dark well marked pterostigma
The pterostigma (plural: pterostigmata) is a group of specialized cells in the outer insect wing, wings of insects, which are often thickened or coloured, and thus stand out from other cells. It is particularly noticeable in dragonfly, dragonfli ...
. Eyes are greenish.[Mark van Vee]
''Chrysopilus'' of Northwest Europe - Identification key - HCC
/ref>
Biology
Adults can be encountered from May through September. The larvae probably develop in soil.[
]
Bibliography
* Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. British insects: the families of Diptera. Version: 16 December 2010
References
External links
*
*
Rhagionidae
Insects described in 1791
Taxa named by Jan Daniel Preysler
Diptera of Europe
{{Rhagionoidea-stub