Rhagionidae

Taxobox

---

image_caption = "Rhagio scolopaceus"
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Brachycera
infraordo = Tabanomorpha
superfamilia = Tabanoidea
familia = Rhagionidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = see text

Rhagionidae or snipe flies are a small family of flies containing 21 genera.__NOTOC__

Description

Rhagionidae are medium–sized or large flies with slender bodies and stilt–like legs. The mouthparts are adapted for piercing and many species are haematophagous as adults, while others are predatory on other insects. They are typically brown and yellow flies, and lack bristles. The larvae are also predatory and are mostly terrestrial, although some are aquatic [Watson & Dallwitz] .

Snipe flies in the genus "Rhagio" are sometimes called "down-looker" flies after their habit of perching head-downward on tree trunks.

Classification

The family is contained in Brachycera infraorder Tabanomorpha. "Atherix" Meigen (and related genera) and "Vermileo" Macquart (and related genera) are now separated from Rhagionidae as Athericidae Stuckenberg 1973 and Vermileonidae Nagatomi 1977.

The following six genera occur in Europe [Fauna Europaea] :
*"Chrysopilus"
*"Ptiolina"
*"Rhagio"
*"Spania"
*"Spatulina"
*"Symphoromyia"

Eight genera occur in the Nearctic [Nomina Diptera] :
*"Arthroceras"
*"Bolbomyia"
*"Chrysopilus"
*"Litoleptis"
*"Ptiolina"
*"Rhagio"
*"Spania"
*"Symphoromyia"

Two genera occur in Japan, "Arthroceras" and "Chrysopilus" [Checklist of Japanese Insects] .

Footnotes

References

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Further reading

* Bezzi, M. 1928. "Diptera Brachycera and Athericera of the Fiji Islands based on material in the British Museum (Natural History)." British Museum (Natural History), London. viii + 220 pp.
* Lindner, E 1924-1925. Rhagionidae in Die Fliegen der Paläarktischen Region 4 (20) 1-49. ISBN 3-510-43016-6 Keys to genera and species.
* Stuckenberg, B., 1960. Diptera (Brachycera): Rhagionidae. "S.Afr. anim. Life" 7: 216-308 Keys to genera and species.
* Stuckenberg, B., 1965. The Rhagionidae of Madagascar (Diptera). "Ann.Natal Mus." 18:89-170. Keys to genera and species.
* Leonard, M. D., 1930. A revision of the Dipterous family Rhagionidae (Leptidae) in the United States and Canada, "Memoirs of the American Entomological Society" 7:1-181.
* Malloch, J. R., 1932. Rhagionidae, Therevidae. British Museum (Natural History). Dept. of Entomology [eds] Diptera of Patagonia and South Chile, based mainly on material in the British Museum (Natural History). Part V. Fascicle 3. - Rhagionidae (Leptidae), Therevidae, Scenopinidae, Mydaidae, Asilidae, Lonchopteridae. pp. 199-293.
* Nagatomi, A., 1982. The genera of Rhagionidae (Diptera). "J. Nat. Hist". 16: 31-70.
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* Kerr, P. H., 2004. Revision of the Genera of the Rhagionidae of the World (Diptera: Brachycera) (Ph.D. Dissertation, [http://www.lib.umd.edu/drum/handle/1903/1684 Digital Repository at the University of Maryland] , 635 pp., size 41105Kb.

ee also

* Use of DNA in forensic entomology

External links

*cite web |work=Tree of Life Web Project |url=http://tolweb.org/Brachycera/10500 |title=Brachycera
* [http://www.cirrusimage.com/fly_snipe_Rhagio.htm "Rhagio mystaceus"] Rhagio diganostic photographs