Snipe Fly vs Mountain Net-Winged Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snipe Fly | Mountain Net-Winged Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Rhagio scolopaceus | Blepharicera capitata |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Rhagionidae | Blephariceridae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 7-11 mm |
| Habitat | Hedgerows | Mountains |
| Diet | Predators | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snipe Fly
A slender, brownish fly with a pointed abdomen and spotted wings that typically perches head-down on tree trunks and fence posts. Adults are ambush predators of smaller insects.
Did You Know?
This fly characteristically rests head-down on vertical surfaces, earning it the folk name "down-looker fly," and lunges at passing prey from this position.
Mountain Net-Winged Midge
A large net-winged midge of Appalachian mountain streams. Larvae require extremely clean, well-oxygenated water flowing over smooth bedrock.
Did You Know?
Females of some Blepharicera species are predatory on other small flies, catching them with their raptorial mouthparts.