Chrysopilus ornatus
Say, 1823
Ornate Snipe Fly
Chrysopilus ornatus is a small, metallic snipe fly in the Rhagionidae, distinguished by its gold-colored that cover the body. are found primarily in moist woodlands and forest edges of the northeastern United States and adjacent southern Canada, with activity peaking in June. The exhibits : males have in contact at the top of the and more slender , while females have separated eyes and more robust, pointed abdomens. Surprisingly little is known about its ; larvae are suspected to occur in damp soil rich in decaying organic matter or in rotting wood, and may be predatory on other .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chrysopilus ornatus: //krɪˈsɒpɪləs ɔːrˈneɪtəs//
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Identification
Distinguished from other snipe flies by its metallic gold scaling covering the body. Males are separable from females by the contact of at the top of the (eyes separated in females) and more slender abdominal shape. Similar in the Chrysopilus and related rhagionids lack the distinctive dense gold scaling. The species name 'ornatus' (Latin for 'adorned') and genus name 'Chrysopilus' (Greek 'chryso' = gold, Latin 'pilus' = hair) directly reference this appearance.
Images
Appearance
are small flies measuring 8–10 mm in body length, with females slightly larger than males. The body is covered in delicate, metallic gold that create a sparkly appearance when fresh, though these scales abrade quickly with wear. is pronounced: males have in contact at the top of the and slender , while females have eyes set apart and more robust, pointed abdomens. The overall coloration is metallic gold with some darker markings.
Habitat
Moist woodlands and forest edges, particularly open hardwood . Also found in meadows and swamps. are typically encountered on foliage in the understory.
Distribution
Northeastern United States and adjacent southern Canada, ranging from New England and southern Ontario south to Florida and Tennessee, and west to Manitoba and Kansas.
Seasonality
Primarily active in June, with some records from May and July.
Behavior
are found resting on foliage in the understory of moist woodland . Larval is poorly documented but suspected to be predatory on other in damp soil or rotting wood.
Ecological Role
may serve as through their presence on flowers, though this has not been quantitatively documented. Larvae are suspected to be in soil and decaying wood .
Human Relevance
None documented. Not a pest . The species' attractive appearance makes it of interest to naturalists and photographers.
Similar Taxa
- Other Chrysopilus speciesLack the distinctive dense metallic gold scaling of C. ornatus
- Other RhagionidaeGenerally lack scaling; most snipe flies are more drab in appearance