Chrysopilus asiliformis

Chrysopilus asiliformis, the little snipe fly, is a species of snipe fly (family Rhagionidae).^[4]

Chrysopilus asiliformis
Chrysopilus cf. asiliformis, male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Rhagionidae
Genus:	Chrysopilus
Species:	C. asiliformis
Binomial name
Chrysopilus asiliformis (Preyssler, 1791)[1]
Synonyms
Chrysopilus aureus (Meigen, 1804)[2] Chrysopilus meridionalis Bezzi, 1898[3] Musca asiliformis Preyssler, 1791[1] Rhagio aureus Meigen, 1804[2] Rhagio aurulans Meigen, 1820 Rhagio luridus Meigen, 1820

Subspecies

Subspecies include:^[5]

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

Distribution

This widespread species is present in most of Europe.^[6]

Chrysopilus asiliformis. Female

Habitat

This species inhabits various environments, as scrubs, woodland edges, wetlands and gardens.^[7]

Description

The adults grow up to 6–9 millimetres (0.24–0.35 in) 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. Eyes are greenish.^[8]

Biology

Adults can be encountered from May through September. The larvae probably develop in soil.^[7]

Bibliography

• Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2003 onwards. British insects: the families of Diptera. Version: 16 December 2010