{"id":63488,"date":"2021-06-30T14:40:38","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T18:40:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/?post_type=news&p=63488"},"modified":"2021-06-30T14:40:38","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T18:40:38","slug":"ask-a-naturalist-golden-backed-snipe-fly","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/naturalsciences.org\/calendar\/news\/ask-a-naturalist-golden-backed-snipe-fly\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask a Naturalist: Golden-backed Snipe Fly"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Golden-backedGolden-backed Snipe Fly. Photo: B. Waller.<\/span><\/p>\n

All That Glitters Might Be Gold<\/h3>\n

By Colin Brammer, Coordinator of the Natural World Investigate Lab<\/em><\/p>\n

Recently, one of our sharp-eyed visitors at Prairie Ridge Ecostation noticed a fly \u201cadorned with gold filagree-like structure on its back.\u201d\u00a0 What they saw was a Golden-backed Snipe Fly, Chrysopilus thoracicus<\/em>.\u00a0 The name is derived from the Greek Chryso<\/em>, meaning golden, and Latin pilus, <\/em>meaning hairs. The species epithet is Greek thoracicus<\/em>, referring to the thorax.<\/p>\n

One would think it would be easy to see such a distinct, shiny insect sitting on leaves of shrubs or grasses, but many times they are overlooked. Adults normally stand head down when at rest on leaves or grasses. That\u2019s one interesting thing about the Ask a Naturalist<\/strong><\/a> photo: the fly is head up!<\/p>\n

Snipe flies, also known as Rhagionids (Family Rhagionidae) commonly occur in our area.\u00a0 They received the common name of \u201csnipe fly\u201d due to the distinct mouthparts that resemble the beak of the avian snipe.\u00a0 There are approximately 32 species of Chrysopilus<\/em> in North America.<\/p>\n

Adults have large eyes, tapering abdomens and long, thin legs.\u00a0 They can be found in wooded areas with moist soils.\u00a0 Larvae occur in many places such as under the bark of trees, moist soils, rotting logs and in some cases, beetle burrows.\u00a0 Adults are thought to prey on soft bodied insects, but at times have been found sipping nectar from flowers.\u00a0 Larvae are also predaceous, with Chrysopilus<\/em> larvae predating on oligochaetes (earthworms and relatives) and soft-bodied insects. Little else is known about the life habits of these flies.<\/p>\n

So the next time someone sends you on a \u201csnipe hunt\u201d in the woods, you may just get the better of them and find one!<\/p>\n

Previous Ask a Naturalist: Butterfliles & Moths<\/strong><\/a> | Older Ask a Naturalist posts<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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