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Classification Order: Diptera – true flies Family: Rhagionidae

Length

Phenology May through September

Identification

A small and delicate, grey-dusted snipefly. adults grow up to 6–9 millimetres (0.24–0.35 in) long and can be encountered from May through September. A fragile-looking fly exhibits a slender body with dark stripes on the abdomen, without bristles. Legs are long and thin, with yellow femora. Wings are hyaline with a dark well marked pterostigma. The eyes of this species are green

Similar Species

They are two sub species

Chrysopilus asiliformis var. asiliformis (Preyssler, 1791)
Chrysopilus asiliformis var. meridiomalis Bezzi, 1898

Life Cycle

Habitat

Scrub, woodland edge, wetlands and even gardens where it is usually encountered on foliage. The larvae are presumed to develop in soil.

 

IMAGES COURTESY GEOFF FOALE (C) 2017