A pair of ornate snipe flies mating on a leaf. They are back-to-back in the photo. Both have alternating brown and yellow strips down the entire body. The wings are clear except for veining and are spread out. They have long legs The one on the left is considerably thicker than the one on the right.

Mating ornate snipe flies. #OrnateSnipeFly #ChrysopilusOrnatus #SnipeFly #Fly #Mating #Insect #Animal #Nature #Photography #GovernorDodgeStatePark #Dodgeville #Wisconsin

Did you know that the major part of the insect biodiversity biomass consist of flies?
Here is a Rhagio tringarius, common name marsh snipefly.

#biodiversity #biomass #rhagio #rhagiotringarius #marshsnipefly #snipefly #snäppfluga #naturephotography #insectphotography

Park at work looking good today! Ox-eye Daisy, Red Clover, Snipefly and Two-spot Ladybird. #nature #wildlife #wildliferecording #wildflower #snipefly #ladybird @mbblerc.bsky.social @inaturalist.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A Common Snipe Fly (Rhagio mystaceus). Pretty common in eastern N. America but I just like the front mirrored pic so posted. Also shows how interesting flies can be. The posterior abdomen has 3 yellow rings & the wings are patterned in black & light yellow bands. NE US May 2024

A Common Snipe Fly (Rhagio mystaceus). Pretty common in eastern N. America but I just like the front mirrored pic so posted. Also shows how interesting flies can be. NE US May 2024

#Snipefly #Flies #Rhagionidae #Bugsky #Invertebrates

Light Brocade moth showing its attractive grey, buff, black and rufous markings.

A snipe fly with dark thorax and orange abdomen Rhagio lineola, not rare but still the first Greenwich record since the 1940s apparently. Attracted to light trap. Moth traps are useful not just for moth records!

Autumn moths Black Rustic and Feathered Thorn resting on a dead leaf, as placed there by me. The Black Rustic would be better camouflaged amongst leaf litter with its shadows and different colours of decaying leaf, but the Feathered Thorn's yellow-brown colouration works fairly well here on this plain background.

Elm Tortix Acleris kochiella is only around 15 to 18mm long, but to me it is beautiful with some scales raised to look like rough bark. Apparently new to Greenwich Park this year.

More 2024 moths and a #snipefly from #Greenwich. Light Brocade, Rhagio lineola first Greenwich record since 1943, Black Rustic and Feathered Thorn looking autumnal, and a gorgeous Acleris kochiella (c16mm); 1st Greenwich Park record. I love its raised scales resembling rough tree bark. #teammoth