| Downlooker Snipefly (Rhagio scolopaceus (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Rhagio scolopaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Downlooker Snipefly French name: Leptis bécasse Order: Diptera Family: Rhagionidae Wingspan : 8 to 14 mm. Biotope: Forests, woodland edges. It is often observed landed, head-down, on leaves trunks or dead wood. Geographic area: Europe. Observation period : May to September. |
The Downlooker Snipefly is a lengthy fly with long legs. The anal cell of the fore wings is open, which is typical of the Rhagio genus. The thorax is pale grey, including on the lateral sides, with three dark longitudinal stripes. The abdomen is orange brown with black marks. The Downlooker Snipefly shows hyaline wings with well marked black spots. The metapleuron, plate on the lateral side of the thorax located at the back of the haltere, does not show any pilosity. Rhagio vitripennis is hairy on the metapleuron. The dark marking on the wings are reduced. The members of this family feed on small insects usually caught in flight. The larvae, which grow in the soil, feed on larvae of other insect species and also on earth worms. |
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The well marked wings and the pale grey colour of the thorax which seems to extend over the lateral sides oriented me to the Rhagio scolopaceus species. |
André Bon March 2019