Subject: Scary!
Geographic location of the bug: Shasta lake CA
Date: 04/30/2019
Time: 12:48 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Found this scary looking bug on my peppermint plant this morning and I can’t figure out what it is. Please help!
How you want your letter signed: Perplexed Peppermint
Dear Perplexed Peppermint,
We will attempt to identify this Fly for you.
Eric Eaton Responds
Daniel:
One of these, I believe: https://bugguide.net/node/view/53713
Family is Xylophagidae, with no common name in English, naturally….
Eric
Lead author, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
Update: Frequent WTB? contributor Cesar Crash believes this is a female Snipe Fly in the genus Rhagio which is pictured on BugGuide .
Update from Eric Eaton:
Well, I’ll be….I stand corrected. It *is* a Rhagio sp. Did not know they got that large and that “red” in California.
Eric
author, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
Hanging thief?
Eric Eaton believes family Xylophagidae.
I think it’s a female Snipe Fly Rhagio sp.
Thanks Cesar. Eric Eaton believes family Xylophagidae.
I dunno, don’t looks right to me. I also considered hanging thief and Xylophagidae in the beggining, but those eyes, mouth parts… I’m still confident with Rhagio species:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1078814
vs.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/121561/bgimage
Hi Cesar,
That link you provided is sure convincing. I will update the posting and contact Eric Eaton again.
I dunno, don’t looks right to me. I also considered hanging thief and Xylophagidae in the beggining, but those eyes, mouth parts… I’m still confident with Rhagio species:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1078814
vs.
https://bugguide.net/node/view/121561/bgimage