Common Snipe Fly

Rhagio mystaceus Macquart (PI. III. fig. 22) 1840. Leptis mystacea Macquart, Dip. Exot. n, p. 1. 1908. Rhagio mystaceus Kertesz, Cat. Dip., in, p. 308.
Blackish; thorax trivittate; abdomen with yellowish brown bands on caudal border of each segment or the basal segments mostly yellowish brown with the black largely confined to a spot in the center of each and one on each lateral margin, the three areas often more or less connected along the cephalic border; legs blackish, front tibiae, except tip, whitish or yellowish and the middle tibiae which are usually brownish; wings with caudal border and two bands and tip brownish.
Male. — (This sex is here described, I believe, for the first time.) Length, 7 to 9 mm. Head: Face, ocellar tubercle and proboscis blackish, all except latter and frontal triangle distinctly light gray pollinose; palpi yellowish, slightly gray pollinose and together with sides of face densely clothed with long pale hairs intermixed usually with a few black ones; antennae blackish, second segment paler at tip.
Thorax: Mesonotum light gray pollinose with three broad brownish stripes, the middle one narrowly divided on the median line; scutellum often somewhat lighter and more or less gray pollinose; mesonotum and scutellum with moderately long and thick black hairs; pleura blackish, grayish pollinose; humeral calli light gray; halteres yellowish.
Abdomen: Blackish with a yellowish brown band on each segment wliich includes
merely the caudal border to as much as nearly the caudal half. Frequently this area is so extended especially on segments 2-4 as to leave in front only a median spot and a lateral one on each side of the black ; these however are often connected on the cephalic border by black; vestiture consists of pale hairs, moderately thick on disc, becoming longer and more abundant on sides.
Legs: Somewhat variable in coloring; coxae blackish, light gray pollinose and with pale hairs; femora, blackish to dark brownish, the extreme tip of the front pair and most of upper surface of the middle pair usually always brownish; front tibiae, except tip, yellowish to almost whitish, middle pair light brown to dark and hind pair uaually dark brownish; metatarsi except tip dark brownish, remainder and often hind metatarsus blackish.
Wings: Veins dark brown, costal cell and the tip broadly and the anal border narrowly and two bands, one from the stigma thru tip of discal cell, the other at base of discal cell, dark brownish, cubitus and anal cross-veins often infuscated; stigmal spot somewhat darker and prominent.
Female. — Length, 6 to 8 mm. Similar to male except that the front is brownish with a rather distinct median groove; the palpi are often blackish in ground color and gray pollinose; the abdomen often has less black than in the male.
Specimens Examined: About 594 males and females.
Newfoundland: 4 cf , St. Johns, June 20, 1906, [C. N. M.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Stephenville, St. George Bay, July 12, (G. P. Englehardt), [Brook. Mus.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Balena, June, 1903, (Wm. Palmer), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 d 2 9, "Bay of N. Newfoundland," July, [Davis].
New Brunswick: i cf , Salisbury, June 15, 1914, (F. M. McKenzie), [N. B. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 9, Chipman, July 30, 1915, (F. M. McKenzie), [N. B. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 9, Fredricton, August 21, 1915, (A. B. Baird), [N. B. Agr. Exp. Sta.].
Nova Scotia: 2 cf, 1 9, Millsville, 1908, [C. U.]. 1 9, Shelburn, July 1, 1911, (Arthur Gibson), [C. N. M.]. 1 cf , Bayington Passage, June 20, 1910, (A. Halkett), Quebec: 1 cf , 1 9 , Montreal, May 28-31:3 9 , Lauzon, June 30 to July 4, 1909; 1 cf, 1 9, Outremont, June 19, 1919; 1 cf, 2 9, Mount Royal, June 12, 1919; 1 9 , Joliett, July 10; 1 9 , St. Remi, June 3, 1920, (all Ouellet), [all Ouellet]. 39 2 9 , Meach Lake, June 21, 1916, (Arthur Gibson), [C, N. M. ; a third 9 in C. U.]. I 9 , Aylmer, May 27, 1919, (J. McDunnough); 2 cf, Queens Park, Aylmer, May & June, 1922, (C. B. Hutchings); 4 cf, 7 9, Aylmer, May 15 to June 8, (C. B. Hutchins); 1 cf , I 9, Chelsea, June 7, 1919, (J. McDunnough); 1 9, Meach Lake, May 30, 1911, (C. H. Young); 1 9, Fort Coulonge, June 5, 1919, (J. I. Beaulne); 1 cf, 1 9, Colebrook, June 20-21, 1914, (C. G. Hewitt); 3 cf, 2 9, Megantic, June, 1923, (C. H. Curran); 2 cf, Cascade, June 19, 1923, (R. Ozburn); 1 9, Caradoc?, June 1, 1920, (H. F. Hudson); 1 9, Fairy Lake, June 1, 1927 (W. J. Brown), [all C. N. M.].
Ontario: Jordan, June; 3 cf , Blackburn, June 22, 1923, (R. Ozburn and A. Richardson); 1 cf, Algonquin Park, June 1922, (J. McDunnough); 2 cf, Point Pelee,
39 Also recorded from Montreal and Rigaud by Winn and Beaulieu (1915: 123). May 27, 1925, (G. S. Walley); 1 o Miners' Bay, May 25, 1927, (F. P. Ide) ; 2 9, Norway Point, Lake of Bays, July 12, 1920, (J. McDunnough); 1 cf, Ottawa, June 7, 1918, (G. B. Hutchins); 2 cf, 1 9, Hog's Back, near Ottawa, June 11, 1908, (J. A. Letourneau); 2 cf, Sudbury, May 26, and June 15, 1889; 1 9, Belleville; 2 9, Hastings, Evans County, June, (Glenn Ross); 2 cf, Post Hope, May to June, (W. Metcalf), [all C. N. M.]. 1 9, Toronto, July 4, 191 1, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Leonard]. 1 cf, Grimsby, June 3, 1894, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Waubamic, June 8 and July 5, 191 5, [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 4 cf , Burlington, June, 1919; (H. C. Huckett), [Leonard]. 2 cf, 2 9, Cedarhurst, June 13, 1913, (A. W. B.), [Ont. Agr. College].
Maine: 2 cf, 2 9 , June 18, 1912, June 17, 1908, and July 7, 1908, [MaineA. E. S.]. 1 9, Capens, July 18, [Leonard, ex Johnson]. 40
New Hampshire: i cf, i 9, "White Mts." (A. T. Slosson), [A. M. N. H.]; 1 cf , 1 9 , White Mountains, (Morrison), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 , Mount Washington, (A. T. Slosson), [A. M. N. H.]. 3 9, Franconia, (A. T. Slosson), [A. M. N. H.]. 1 cf , Hanover, (C. M. Weed), [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 1 cf , Canobie Lake, (Geo. Dimmock), [U. S. N. M.]. 41
Vermont: i cf , Manchester, June 4, 1910, [M. D. Leonard, ex C. W. Johnson]. 42
Massachusetts: i 9, Blue Hills, June 3, 1916, [Brues]. 9 cf, Petersham, June, (C. T. Brues, J. W. Chapman), [Brues]. 1 cf , 1 9, Sherborn, June 11, 1916, (C. A. Frost), [Van Duzee]. 1 cf , 2 9, Amherst, June 7 and May 30, 1904 and June 8, 1911, [Mass. Agr. College]. 1 cf , Boston, [Brues]. 2 cf , 2 9 , Boston, [A. M. N. H.; "Hy. Edwards, 648, 649"]. 2 cf, 1 9, Wachusett Mountain, [A. M. N. H.; "Hy. Edwards, 648 "]. 1 9 , Forest Hills, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9, Beverley, June 30, 1875, (Ed. Burgess), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 <?, Chicopee, May 31, 1896, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9, Quincy, (J. C. Merritt), [U. S. N. M.]. I cf, 2 9, Lexington, June 16, 18, 23, (N. Banks), [M. C. Z.]. 1 9 , Cambridge, (Geo. Dimmock), [U. S. N. M.]. 2 9, Bass Rocks, June, [A. N. S. P., ex Dietz]. 12 cf, 1 9 , [Mass. Agr. College]. 43
Rhode Island: 2 cf , June 23, 1907; 4 cf , Cumberland, May 28, 1904, [all R. I. Agr. College].
Connecticut: i cf , New Haven, May 22, 1910, (W. E. Britton); 1 9 , Branford, June 13, 1918, (B. W. Walden); 1 cf, Storrs, June 1, 1927, (J. A. Manter); 1 cf, June 2, 1924, (J. W. Blalock); 1 9, Stonington, June 6, 1914, (I. W. Davis), [all Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 cf , New Haven, May 15, 1910, (A. B. Chaplain), [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 1 9, Darien, June 11, 1912, [Leonard, ex Johnson].
New York: i cf, Keeseville, June, 1916, (G. A. Jeffreys), [Biol. Surv.]. 1 cf,
40 Recorded by Johnson (1925: 105) from the following "Areas": Moosehead Lake, Lower Penobscot, Washington County, Mount Desert, Lower Kennebec, and Southwestern Maine.
41 Recorded from the White Mountains, Lake Winnepesaukee, Mount Monadnock, and Hampton "Areas" by Johnson (1925: 105).
42 Recorded by Johnson (1925: 105) from the Upper River Valley and Lower 'Green Mountains' "Areas."
43 Also reported by Johnson (1925: 105) from the following "Areas": Berkshire, Connecticut River Valley, Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Bristol County.
Peru, June 10, 1916, [C. U.]; 2 cf , June 8, 1916, (C. R. Crosby & W. T. M. Forbes), [C. U.]. 2 9, Loomis, [Brues]. 1 cf, Hamburg, June 6, 1909, (M. C. Van Duzee). [Van Duzee]. 1 cf , Hamburg, May 26, 1912, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Van Duzee]; 2 cf , June 6, 1909, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Leonard]. 1 cf , Holland, May 21, 1911, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Leonard]. 1 cf , Woodworth's Lake, Fulton County, (C. P. Alexander), [C. U.]. 2 9, Fort Edward, June 7, 1916, [C. U.]. 2 cf, 2 9, Rock City, June 6, 8, 9, 1915, [C. U.]. 1 cf , Crosby, Yates County, May 23, 1918, (C. R. Crosby), [C. U.]. 1 9, North Elba, July, (F. Watson) [Staten Id. Mus.]. 4 9, West Point, June, [Brook. Mus.]. 1 9 , West Point, June 4, 1916, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 3 cf, 3 9, Big Indian Valley, Catskill Mountains, May and June, [A. M. N. H.]. 2 cf , I 9 , Fort Montgomery, May 31, 1903, [Davis]. 1 cf , 4 9 , Trenton Falls, June 4 to 8, 1921 (M. D. Leonard), [C. U.]. 2 9, West Winfield, June 7, 1921, (M. D. Leonard), [C. U.]. 5 cf, 1 9, Loon Lake, June 10 to 11, 1916, (C. R. Crosby), [C. U.]. 1 9, Staten Island, June 2, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. Orient Point, June (Roy Latham), [N. Y. S. M.]. 3 cf, 2 9, Staten Island, May 24 to June 3, [Davis]. 1 9, Watchogue, June 3, [Davis]. 1 9, the Roosevelt Estate, Oyster Bay, June 14, 1903, [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 1 9, Jamaica, May 29, 1909, (C. E. Olsen), [A. M. N. H.j. 1 cf, 1 9, Yaphank, May, [A. M. N. H.]; 1 cf, I 9, May 29, 1911, (C. L. Pollard), [Staten Id. Mus.]; 1 cf, 1 9, May 18, 1913, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]; 1 9 , May 29, [Brook. Mus.]. Cold Spring Harbor, June 21, 1917, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 2 9 , May 26 and June II, 1896, Flatbush, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9, Flushing, May 25, 1918, (J. Bequaert), [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9, Central Park, Long Island, June 27, 1920, [A. M. N. H.]. 3 9, Sands Point, June 15, 1919 and July 10, 1920, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9, Mix Creek Valley, Cattaraugus County, June 11, 1915, [C. U.]. 1 9, Oliverea, June 21, 1918, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 cf, Onteora Mountain, Greene County, 2500 ft., (L. 0. Howard), June, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 , Ramapo, May 31, [Davis]. Lancaster, June, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Van Duzee]. Keene Valley, June; Saranac Inn, June; Speculator (D. B. Young), June; Lake Clear (D. B. Young), June; Newport (D. B. Young), May; Chapel Pond, (S. C. Bishop), June; Mt. Mclntyre, 4,000 ft., (M. D. Leonard) June, 30; Johnstown, May; Trenton Falls, (D. B. Young, M. D. Leonard) July; Corinth, (D. B. Young), June; Albany, June; Thatcher Park, Helderberg Mountains, (M. D. Leonard), May; Cropseyville, (M. D. Leonard), June; Poughkeepsie, (D. B. Young), May; Wappinger's Falls, (M. D. Leonard), July, [all N. Y. S. M.l. Many from several locations in Tompkins County, including Ithaca, Coy Glen, McLean Bogs, Ringwood, Spencer, and Danby, May 27-July 31, 1882-1925, [mostly in C. U.]. 44
New Jersey: i 9 , Malaga, June 1, 1907, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf , Ashland, May 13, 1905, [A. N. S. P.]. 2 cf, Pemberton, October 10, 1908, [A. N. S. P.]. 2 cf , Merchantville, May 25, 1902, and June 4, 1904, (E. Daecke); 1 cf , Iona, May 10, 1908;
1 Q, May 23, 1904, (E. Daecke); 2 9, Manumuskin, May 10, 1903, (E. Daecke);
2 cf , 1 9, National Park, May 20, 1905, (E. Daecke): 1 cf. Brown's Mill Junction, May 21, 1904, (E. Daecke); 1 9 , Da Costa, May 18, 1902, (E. Daecke); [all Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Anglesea, May 27, 1905, (F. Haimbach), [A. N. S. P., ex Haimbach]. 2 9, Gloucester County, June 10, 1906, (F. Haimbach), [A. N. S. P.,
44 Recorded from Axton by MacGillivray and Houghton (1903: 12-13). ex Haimbach]. 1 9, Riverton, July 16, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf , 2 9, Milltown, June 10, [A. M. N. H.J. 1 cf, Newfoundland, May 17, 1910, and pair in coitu May 1899, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]; 1 cf, 1 9, May 30, [A. M. N. H.]; 1 d [Brook. Mus.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Hackettstown, May 22, 1910; Lake Hopatcong, May 24, 1910; 2 9 , Orange Mountains, May and June; 2 d Hemlock Falls, May and June; 10 d 9 9, Great Piece Meadow; 4 cf , 2 9 , May 30, 1919, (J. Bequaert), [all A. M. N. H.]. 4 cf , 1 9 , Trenton, May 31, 1906 [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf, Ocean County, [Brook. Mus.]. T cf, Essex Falls, June 8, 1910, [Brook. Mus.]. 1 9 , Long Branch, June 11, [Brook. Mus.]. 1 9, Ramsey, June 16; 5 d 2 9, June 5 to 10, 1916, (J. Bequaert), [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9 , May 16, (R. P. Dow), & 7 cf , Lahaway, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 d Englewood, April 28, 1919. (J. Bequaert), [A. M. N. H.]. 3 9 , Lakehurst, May 16, 20, 24; 1 cf , May 30, 1912; 1 d 3 9, May 13-30, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 cf, 1 9, Clementon, May 30, 1895, [U. of 111.]; 1 d May 24, [A. N. S. P.]. 3 cf , Moorestown, June 21, 1924, (H. C. Hallock), [C. U.].
Pennsylvania: 2 9 , June 16, 1907; 2 9 , June 4, 1905; June 3, 1906, Swarthmore, (E. T. Cresson Jr.), [A. N. S. P.]. 1 9, June 3, 1917; 2 cf, June 7, 1912; 9, June 5, 1912, Hummelstown, (J. N. Knull), [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 1 9, Glenside, Montgomery County, June 23, 1907, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf , Hekton Mills, May 13, 1910, (W. R. Walton), [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 4 <?, Paxtang, May 26, 1918, (C. S. Anderson), [Anderson], cf, Churchtown, May 21, 1916, (C. S. Anderson), [Anderson]. 3 9, Castle Rock, Delaware County, May 28, June 6, 9 [A. N. S. P.]. 2 9 , Harrisburg, May 27, 1916, (C. S. Anderson), [Anderson]. 1 cf, 2 9, Germantown, May 20, June 25, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Jeanette, (J. M. Aldrich), [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 1 cf, 2 9, Montgomery County, May 26, June 29, [A. N. S. P.]. 2 9, Washington County, (Ehrmann), [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 1 9, Upsala, June 2, 1906, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 9 , North East, May 26. 1916, (R. A. Cushman), [U. S. N. M., Div. Forest Ins.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Hazelton, June, (W. G. Dietz), [A. N. S. P., ex Dietz]. 1 9, Inglenook, May 25, 1913, (E. Daecke), [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 3 cf, "Pa." [A. M. N. H.]. 2 cf , I 9 , Roxborough, May 31, June 7, 1908, (F. Haimbach) [A. N. S. P., ex Haimbach]. 1 9, Lansdale, July 3, 1910, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 9, Philadelphia, June 9, [A. N. S. P.].
Maryland: 3 cf, 2 9, Camp Meade, May to June, 1919, (R. C. Shannon), [Shannon]. 1 9, Plummer's Island, May 10, 1916; 1 cf, May 12, 1913, (W. L. McAtee), [Biol. Surv.]. 1 9, near Plummer's Island, May 14, 1915, (R. C. Shannon), [U. S. N. M.]. I cf, College Park, May 2; 1 cf, May 7, 1913, [Md. Agr. College].
District of Columbia: i cf, Washington, April 28, 1912, [M. D. Leonard, ex Van Duzee]; 1 cf, April 28, 1913, (W. L. McAtee), [Biol. Surv.]; 1 cf, (A. N. Caudell), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Rock Creek Park, [U. S. N. M.]. 2 cf , Anacostia, May 4, 1913, (P. R. Myers), [U. S. N. M.].
Virginia: i cf , [U. S. N. M.]. 2 cf , [A. N. S. P.]. 1 cf, Glencarlyn, April 27, 1903, (A. N. Caudell), [U. S. N. M.]. 2 cf , 2 9, Blacksburg, May to June 1916, [Va. Agr. College]. 1 cf , Dead Run, Fairfax County, May 27, 1915; 1 9 , May 19, 1916, (R. C. Shannon), [Shannon]. 1 9, Great Falls, May 12, (N. Banks), [M. C.
Z.]; i 9, May 2, 1916, (W. L. McAtee), [Biol. Surv.]; 2 d April 20, 1913, (R. C. Shannon); I o", May 12, 1911, (S. A. Rohwer), [U. S. N. M.]; 3 <? , 3 9, May 2, 11, 1917, (C. T. Greene), [U. S. N. M., Div. Forest Ins.]. 2 d Falls Church, May 5, 1913; 1 9, May 19, 1916, (C. T. Greene), [U. S. N. M., Div. Forest Ins.]. 1 9, Roslyn, May 11, 1913, (F. Knab), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 d 1 , Maywood, Alexandria County, May 19, 1916, (W. L. McAtee), [Biol. Surv.].
North Carolina: i a" , [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 , Black Mountains, June, [A. M. N. H.];i 9, [Brook. Mus.]. 45
Florida:*
Ohio: i d i 9, Cedar Point, Sandusky, May 30, 1903; 1 0" , Danville, May 19, 1899; 1 d 1 9 , Flint, May 10, 1903, [all Hine]. 4 c?, 3 9 , Wooster, May and June, [Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta.].
Indiana: i 9, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 d [Kansas]. 1 d 1 9, Dyer, June 4, 1899, Illinois: 2 d 2 9, Algonquin, 1 of which is June 10, 1898, (Wm. A. Nason);
1 d Dubois, April 28, 1908; 4 d Dongola, May 9, 12, 1916; 1 9, Carbondale, April 27, 1908; I 9 , Oregon, June 19, 1917; 1 d Matanzas Lake, Havana, May 1, 1912, (all U. of 111.]. 1 d% "N. 111." [A. N. S. P.]. 1 d Chicago, May 28, 1899, Michigan: i 9, June 4, 1890: 1 d% June 3, 1916, East Lansing (?), [Mich. Agr. College]. 1 9, South Haven, May 22, 1891, [Mich. Agr. College]. 1 9, Ann Arbor, June 14, 1919, (E. G. Anderson), [Shannon]. 1 d Detroit, June 9, 1906 [A. N. S. P.]. 1 d Alpena, (Wm. A. Nason), [U. of 111.]. 1 d Madison, [U. of 111.]. 1 d [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich].
Wisconsin: 2 9, [A. M. N. HJ. 2 <?, Polk County, July, (C. F. Baker), [Cole].
2 d" , "Wis." [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 1 specimen, "Wis." [Stanford U.]. 3 d 1 9, Pine Lake, June 7, 1890, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 cf, Beaver Dam, [A. N. S. P., ex Dietz]. 2 d Amery, May 30, 1918, (Q. Lowry), [N. H. Agr. College]. 1 o". "Wis." May, [Wash. State College].
Minnesota: 2 o 1 , 1 9, Basswood Lake, [Minn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 d Lake Itasca, June 3, 1914, [U. of Minn.]. 1 9 , Lake Itasca, June 9, 1920, (S. A. Graham) [U. of Minn.]. 1 9, St. Anthony Park, June 10, 1920 (H. H. Knight), [U. of Minn.]. 46
Iowa: i d", 1 9, Ames, [U. S. N. M.].
Missouri: i 9, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 <?, Cadet, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 "C. Mo." [Wash. State College, ex Wescott].
Nebraska: 2 c? , South Bend, May 1905, (L. Bruner, M. H. Swenk), [Nebraska].
45 C. S. Brimley reports that the N. Carolina Dept. of Agr. Collection has: eight specimens from Linville Falls, late May, 1920; three from Sunburst, late May (F. Sherman); two, Raleigh, late April (C. L. Metcalf); one, Craggy Mountain, June 18, 1916, (R. W. Leiby).
46 Ruggles reports that the Minnesota Agr. Exp. Sta. Collection has specimens from Ramsen, Hennepin, and Olmstead Counties.
* Recorded from Jacksonville by Johnson (1913: 54). Manitoba: i d Stockton, June 21, 1905, (N. Criddle), [C. N. M.]. This is a well defined, well known species and is common apparently throughout the greater part of its range.

Rhagio mystaceus, also known as the down-looker fly, downlooker snipefly and common snipe fly, is a species of fly from the family Rhagionidae.