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Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial
Feeding Habits
Adults: predaceous
Immatures: predaceous
Size: 4 to 15 mm
Flight : strong flier
North American Species: 108
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Diptera Rhagionidae
Snipe flies
Front Wings: membranous
Hind Wings: reduced to halteres
Mouthparts: sucking
Antenna Length: shorter than body
Antenna Shape: straight
Front Legs: unmodified
Hind Legs: unmodified
Special Characteristics:
Rhagionidae are medium to large sized flies. They are usually gray or brownish but may be black with white, yellow or green spots. They have long legs and a long tapered abdomen and a large rounded head. They often have spotted wings. The body is either bare or covered with short hair.
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Comments: The adults are common in moist shady places, and are often seen resting on leaves in woods. The larvae live in rotting wood or moist soil. The larvae and most adults are probably predaceous on small insects, but the feeding habits of most species of rhagionids are not well known. Some species feed on nectar and honeydew. A few species in western North America bite and can be pests.
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Species: Chrysopilus ornatus
Common Name: Gold-backed snipe fly
Feeding Habits: The larvae are predaceous on small insects in moss and decaying wood. The adults are predaceous on aphids and other small insects.
Distribution: Southeastern Canada
Comments: This species in commonly found in damp meadows and swamps.
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