Chrysopilus ornatus

Ornate Snipe Fly

Family: Rhagionidae

Subfamily: Rhagioninae

Length: females 14-17 mm; males 11-13

Hardy (1949) notes these distinguishing traits of the genus Chrysopilus:

Hind tibiae have one terminal spur
Front tibiae lack a terminal spur
Metapleura well-covered with pile
Third segment of antennae oval or conical
Aristae are noticeably longer than the antennae
Cubital cell of wing is closed

For the species Chrysopilus ornatus, Hardy lists these key traits:

Femora and halteres pale
Yellowish, indistinct stigma
On the female, the front is shining black

Right: This female Chrysopilus ornatus was photographed in mid-June at a highway department wetland in Upshur County.

Left: the much larger eyes, which touch, distinguish the male Chrysopilus ornatus from the female.

A similar species is Chrysopilus fasciatus, which has been reported from states near West Virginia, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Chrysopilus fasciatus is always smaller, at 7.5-8.5 mm for the males and 8.5-9.5 mm for females. There are a number of other differences, including darkened femora in Chrysopilus fasciatus.

Right: Note the ovoid third antennal segment, and the very long aristae, characteristic of genus Chrysopilus. The pale femora are characteristic of Chrysopilus ornatus.

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Insects of West Virginia