Skinny Fly: Identification & Behavior Of The Dioctra Hyalipennis

The skinny fly scientifically referred to as Dioctra hyalipennis belongs to the Genus Dioctra, Family Asilidae, Order Diptera, Class Insecta, Phylum Arthropoda, and Kingdom Animalia.

Although there is very little information about this fly due to its being rare, I have been able to come up with the closest description of this insect.

This insect or fly species are quite rare, but if you ever come across them would you be able to identify them? Follow me as I describe this amazing insect below!

 

What Does the Skinny Fly Look Like?

The skinny fly is quite distinct due to the amazing body features that make it stand out from other fly species. Below are the bodily features of the skinny fly that can be used to identify them:

• Their body size ranges from 10 to 14 mm.
• They have distinct body colorations:
  • Their bodies are covered with short black hair.
  • Their lower face has a silver-colored pile.
  • The upper head and vertex are shiny black.
  • They have a short proboscis that is black.
  • The mystax (a line or group of prominent bristles found on the lower face) is white.
  • Their thorax is black with two long indented lines and a faint covering of light yellow pile.
  • Their scutellum is small and has a line of yellow pile at the base.
  • They have transparent wings that appear to be dark when folded over the body.
  • They have brown veins.
  • You will notice that they have front and middle legs that are mostly yellow with black streaks on the top side and dark tips.
  • Their feet are black with grey piles and yellow spines and toes.
  • The thorax sides have a wide stripe of whitish pollen extending along the thorax down to the front leg.
  • They have light yellow halteres (a pair of small club-shaped organs on the body of two orders of flying insects that provide information about body rotations during flight).
  • They have shining black abdomens.
    • The female abdomen is flat on the top side, rounded, and orange on the underside.
  • The hind legs are black with a swollen first foot segment.
  • The lower margin of its body segments has a thin whitish line.
• The female abdomen is wider and thicker than the abdomen of the males.
  • The male abdomen is longer.
• Their neck is very visible.
• Their thorax is humped.
• The antennae are Y-shaped.
• The body segments of the skinny fly are equal in length.

The above body descriptions should help you identify the long skinny fly if you ever come across one. Although this fly species is quite rare, its distinctive body features make it a must-see.

 

Read also: Brown Little Bugs That Fly: What They Really Are

 

What Does the Skinny Fly Feed On?

The skinny fly is quite a distinctive feeder as well. Below are insects that make it on the list of things that the long skinny fly feeds on:

• Wasps
• Bees
• Small flies
• Pygmy grasshoppers.

 

Where Does the Long Skinny Fly Live?

The long skinny fly can be found in habitats including the following:

• Forests
• Cedar trees
• Meadows
• Field edges
• Hedgerows
• Spruce

 

Read also: Flying Blue Insect: What Are These Flies I Am Seeing?

 

Conclusion

Skinny flies are very distinctive and can be identified mostly from the colors of their various body parts. From the article above, you would realise that most of my description of this insect is based on its color.

What do you think of this amazing fly? Have you ever come across them? Do you think you can identify them from the description above if you ever come across them?

Let me know your answer via the comments section provided below!

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