Golden Backed Snipe Fly

Chrysopilus thoracicus Fabricius (PI. Ill, fig. 29)
1805. Leptis thoracica Fabricius, Syst. Ant., p. 70.
1840. Chrysopila thoracica Macquart, Dipt. Exot., II, pt. 1, p. 32.
1908. Chrysopilus thoracicus Kertesz, Cat. Dipt., in, p. 327.
Velvety black; face pale satiny brown in certain lights; mesonotum with dense golden tomentum ; abdomen with a patch of golden or silvery tomentum on either side of hind border of each segment; halteres and femora black; tibiae and tarsi yellowish or brownish yellow; wings with membrane on each side of veins broadly bordered with brown so that practically whole wing is a smoky dark brown in color.
Male. — Length 10 to 12 mm. Head: Front velvety black; face black in ground color but in certain lights a more or less pale satiny brown, sides well clothed with long brownish hairs, bulbous portion brownish black in all lights; palpi and proboscis blackish, the former thickly covered with long brownish hairs; antennae blackish, first segment with rather long blackish hairs; ocellar triangle prominent, velvety black, with a few short black hairs, ocelli whitish.
Thorax: Mesonotum covered with a solid patch of golden tomentum which is often wanting in the center in somewhat rubbed specimens thus revealing the velvety-black ground color; scutellum dull black, sparsely clothed with long, rather pale hairs, especially on the caudal border, and often with a few short appressed golden hairs in front. Pleura semi-shining, brownish black, paler at the sutures, bare except for a tuft of pale hairs just in front of the halteres; halteres blackish, base of stalk brownish.
Abdomen: Velvety black, caudal border of first five segmants each with a band of short, appressed, golden or silvery tomentum which is more or less interrupted in the middle, thus forming two rows of tufts.
62 Recorded from Hood River by Cole and Lovett (1921: 236).
63 Recorded from Cheyenne Canyon, in July and Colorado Springs, in August, by Tucker (1907: 89). Legs: Coxae semi-shining, blackish, with long blackish hairs, for the most part located in front on fore and middle pairs and mostly on the outer side on hind pair; trochanters blackish with short hairs; femora, excepting sometimes extreme tip, blackish; tibiae and first tarsal segment brownish yellow; remainder of tarsi infuscated.
Wings: Whole membrane distinctly tinged with brownish, but the costal and subcostal cells, and cell Ri, except at the base, wholly dark brown; all the veins broadly bordered with dark brown.
Female. — Length, 10 to 13 mm., but averaging on the whole somewhat larger than the male; similar to the male with the following exceptions: front velvety black, bare; hairs of face apparently not so long on upper portion, antennae with shorter hairs on first segment and these mostly on the lower surface.
Specimens Examined: About 463 males and females.
Ontario: Several males and females, Jordan, May and June, (W. A. Ross), [C. N. M.]; 1 9, June 20, 1914; 1 9, July 15, 1912, Grimsby, [Ont. Agr. College].
Maine: 64
New Hampshire: 64 The above statement applies here also.
Connecticut: i 9, Hartford, May 18, 1893; 1 d 1 9, June 11, 1893, [U. S. N. M.]; 1 9, May 31, 1896; 1 <?, June 8, 1893, [A. N. S. P.]. 1 9, New Haven, June 11, 1905, (B. H. Walden), [Leonard]; 1 9, June 19, 1910, (A. B. Champlain); 1 d June 9, 1905, (B. H. Walden); 1 9, June 8, 1904, (W. E. Britton), [all Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]; 1 9, June 5, 1910, (Champlain and Walton), [U. S. N. M., ex Walton]. 1 d Darien, June 11, 1912, [Leonard]. 1 d 1 , Danbury, June 15, 1909, (H. E. Smith), [M. C. Z.]. 1 9 , Colebrook, June 23, 1914, (C. Gordan Hewitt), [C. N. M.]. 1 9 , Guilford, June 15, 1919, (K. F. Chamberlain) ; 1 d Wallingford, June 1910, (D. J. Caffrey); 1, Westville, June 10, 1899, (W. E. Britton); 1, Rainbow, June 6, 1903, (W. E. Britton); 1, Yalesville, June 27, 1907, (Walden); 1, Caanan, June 14, 1916, (M. P. Zappe), [all Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 3 9 , Pleasant Valley, (J. Bequaert), [A. M. N. H.].
Massachusetts: i 9, Amherst, June 15, 1904, [Mass. Agr. College]. 1 9, Springfield, (Pollard) ; 1 9 , Wildbraham, June 4, 1903, [U. S. N. M.]. 1 cf, " Mass." [A. M. N. H., ex. Wheeler]. 18 d 16 9, presumably from Massachusetts [Mass. Agr. College]. 65
New York: i 9, Honeoye Falls, June 22, 1913, (M. D. Leonard), [Leonard]. 1 9, Rochester, June 20, 1891, (J. M. Aldrich), [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]; 1 9, June 21, 1907, (J. L. Zabriskie), [A. M. N. H.]. 2 d 8 9, Batavia, June 9 to 21, 1913, (H. H. Knight), [Leonard]. 2 9, Genesee County, June 18, 1916, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 9, Portage, June 22, 1916, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1, Pike, [N. Y. S. M.]. 2 9, Colden, June 7, 1908, (M. C. Van Duzee), [Van Duzee]. Westfield, in List Ins. N. Y., p. 760. 50 + 0" & 9, Tompkins County, including
64 Recorded from these states by Lewis Hood (1892: 283), but Johnson considers the records doubtful.
65 Recorded by Johnson (1925: 105) from the "Berkshire and Connecticut River Valley Areas."
McLean, Ringwood, Taughannock, and Ithaca and vicinity, June to July, 1872 to 1920, (various collectors), [mostly C. U.]. 1 9, Interlaken, June 20, 1915, [C. U.]. I, Albany, June, (D. B. Young); 1, Voorheesville, (M. D. Leonard); 1, Castleton, June, (A. J. Lintner); 1, Nassau, June, (D. B. Young); 1, Bethlehem, May and June, (J. M. Aldrich); 1, Clinton Heights, 1, Cropseyville, June, (M. D. Leonard), [all N. Y. S. M.]. 1 9, Hudson, June 24, 1917, [Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1, North Chatham, June, [N. Y. S. M.]. 2 cf, 3 9, Binghamton, [A. N. S. P., ex Dietz]. 1, Poughkeepsie, May, (D. B. Young), [N. Y. S. M.]. 1 d 4 9 , Ramapo, May n, 12, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 cf, West Point, June 4, 1911; 1 9, June 18, 1912, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 9 , New York City, June 20, 1893, (E. B. Southwick) ; 1 cf, Katonah, June 1908, (Wm. Beutenmueller) ; 1 9, Moshulu;4 cf , 34 9, (?) West Farms, New York City, (J. Angus); 3 cf, Nyack, May 22, 1884; 5 9, May 22, 1883 and 1884; 1 d Suffern, [all A. M. N. H.]. 3 cf , 6 9 , Staten Island, May and June, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 9 cf, 7 9, Richmond, S. I., June 9, 1919, (E. J. Burns), [Burns]; 1 cf, June 16, (C. L. Pollard), [Staten Id. Mus.]. 2 d 1 9, New Dorp, Staten Island, June 3, 1919, (E. J. Burns), [Burns]. 1 cf, Tottenville, Staten Island, (E. J. Burns), [Burns]. 1 9, Astoria, Long Island, [A. M. N. H.]. 1, Jamaica, Long Island, June, [Davis]. I, Central Park, Long Island, July, [A. M. N. H.]; 2 9 , (C. F. Groth), [A. M. N. H.]; 2 9, [A. M. N. H.; "No. 652 Hy. Edwards"]; 2 9 , [A. M. N. H.; one is June 1 "No. 355"]; 2 9 , [U. S. N. M.]; 1 cf, 2 9 , (A. T. Slosson), [A. M. N. H.];4 d 2 9 , [A. M. N. H.]. New Jersey: i d i 9 , Newfoundland, May 28, 1910, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis].
1 cf, Millburn, June 5, 1918, (J. Bequaert); 5 cf, 2 9, Ramsey, June 14, 1916. (J. Bequaert); 3 cf, June 2 and 13, 1912, [all A. M. N. H.]; 1 cf, June 16, 1917, [Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Montclair, May 21, 29, 1916, (E. J. Burns), [Burns]; 1 cf, 1 9 , (in coitu), June 13, 1916, (E. J. Burns), [Burns]. 2 9, Ramapo Mountains, June 20, 1910, [Staten Id. Mus.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Long Branch, June n, 1900, (C. W. Johnson), [Brook. Mus.]. 2 9 , Rutherford, May 31, (Wm. T. Davis), [Davis]. 1 cf, Newfoundland, May 26 to 30, 1910; I 9, Snake Hill; 1 9, New Brunswick, May 28, [all A. M. N. HJ. 3 cf , Guymard, June 9, 1910, [A. M. N. H. and Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 cf , 4 9 , Paterson, May 21-June 17, [A. M. N. H.].
2 9, Dover, June 17, [U. of 111.]. 1 9, Bergen County, May 27, 1919, (E. D. Quirsfeld), [Neb. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 9, Great Notch, June 10, (Broadwell); 1 cf, 1 9, Hemlock Falls, June; 1 cf, West Orange, June; 1 9, Brookside, July; 1 cf, 1 9 , Singac, July, [all Conn. Agr. Exp. Sta.]. 1 9 , Great Piece Meadow, May 30, 1919, [A. M. N. H.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Gloster, June 4, 1916, (E. R. Kalmbach), [Biol. Surv.]. 2 cf, 1 9, Ridgewood, July 19, 1910, (M. D. Leonard), [Leonard]. 1 9, Arlington, June 4; 3 9, Alpine; 1 9 , Fort Lee, [all A. M. N. H.].
Pennsylvania: 2 cf , 3 9 , Swarthmore, May 28 to June 4, 1905, (E. T. Cresson, Jr.), [A. N. S. P.]. 3 cf , 2 9 , Philadelphia, [C. U.]; 1 cf , 1 9 , May 31, 1891, [U. of 111.]; 1 9, June 7, 1913, [A. N. S. P.]; 3 9, Philadelphia, June 13, 1917, (F. M. Trimble), [Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 1 cf, 1 9, Montgomery County, June 6; 1 cf, 1 9, Hunter's Run, May 30, 1912; 2 9, Cly, May 27, 1916; 2 cf, 1 9. Inglenook, May 26, 1911 and 1918 and June 1, 1913, (H. B. Kirk); 1 9, Glenside, May 30, 1904, (E. Daecke), [all Pa. Dept. Agr.]; 2 cf, 1 9, June 4 and 16, (H. S. Harbeck). [A. N. S. P., ex Harbeck]. 4 9, Castle Rock, June 9 and 16, 1901 ; 1 cf, 6 9, Linglestown, June 2, 1918, (C. S. Anderson); 2 cf, 1 9, Charter Oak, June 20-21, 1917, (J. N. Knull), [all Pa. Dept. Agr.]. 3 9 , Delaware Water Gap, (A. T. Slosson) [A. M. N. H.]. 1 cf , 1 9 , Mount Pocono, June 9 to 19, 1906, (P. P. Calvert) , 1 9 , Harvey's Lake, Luzerne County, June 16, 1905, (H. Skinner); 1 cf, 1 9, Upsala, June 2, 1906; 1 d 4 9 , [A. N. S. P.]. Germantown, May 25 to June 20, (H. S. Harbeck), [A. N. S. P., ex Harbeck]. 3 cf , 7 9 , Roxboro, May 26 to June 3, (F. Haimbach), [A. N. S. P., ex Haimbach]. 1 9, Alleghany, June 3, 1889, [U. of Minn.]; 1 9, July 1, 1891, [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 1 cf , 2 9, North East, July 6 to 9, 1916, (R. A. Cushman), [U. S. N. M.], 1 cf , 1 9, Progress, June 6; 1 cf, Heckton Mills, May 31, 1909; 1 cf, 1 9, Pembrook, June 5, [all U. S. N. M., ex. Walton]. 1 cf, 1 9, Jeanette, [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 2 cf, 2 9, Hazleton, June 4, 1913, (W. G. Dietz), [A. N. S. P., ex Dietz]. 1 9, "Penna." [Kansas]. 1 cf, 1 9, "Penna." [U. of Minn.]. 66
Maryland :i cf , 1 9 (in coitu and many others seen by Shannon in coitu on June 4); 1 cf, Cabin John, June 4, 1916, (R. C. Shannon); 2 9, Plummer's Island, May 28 and 30, (R. C. Shannon); 1 9 , May 25, 1902, (H. S. Barber), [all U. S. N. M.]. 1 cf, 1 9, June 17, 1913, (W. L. McAtee), [Biol. Surv.]. 1 cf , 2 9, College Park, 1914, [Pa. Dept. Agr.]; 1 cf, 2 9, 1914, (G. W. Barber), [G. W. Barber]. 1 cf, Forest Glen, June 1, 1913, (F. Knab), [U. S. N. M.]; 1 9, June 13, 1915, (W. L. McAtee) ; 1 9 , Beltsville, May 28, 1916, (W. L. McAtee) ; 1 9 , Rives, June 14, 1916, (L. O. Jackson), [all Biol. Surv.]. 1 9, Travilah, May, (F. C. Pratt), District of Columbia: 2 9, Washington, (D. H. Clemons); 1 9, Rock Creek, June 8, 1917, (C. H. T. Townsend), [all U. S. N. M.].
Virginia: 2 9, Falls Church, June 2, 1916, (J. N. Knull and C. T. Greene), [U. S. N. M.; Div. Forest Ins.]; 1 9 , June 3, 1913, (A. Busck), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 , Langley, July 1902, (Wm. Palmer), [U. S. N. M.]. 1 9, Bluemont, June 13, 1916, (J. N. Knull), [U. S. N. M., Div. Forest Ins.]. 1 9 , Dixie Landing, May 25, [U. of Minn.]. 2 9 , Dixie Landing, [Wash. State College]. 4 9 , Blacksburg, May to June 1916, [Leonard ex. Va. Crop Pest Comm.]. 1 9 , Mount Vernon, June 4, 1916, (W. L. McAtee); 1 cf , 2 9, May 27, 1916, (J. Silver); 1 cf, near Plummer's Island, June 2, 1916, (W. L. McAtee), [all Biol. Surv.]. 1 cf , 1 9, Marlatt, May 3, [U. S. N. M., ex Aldrich]. 2 9 , Glencarlyn, May 31, (S. A. Rowher) ; 1, Newington, Fairfax County, May 31, 191 1, (S. A. Rowher), [all U. S. N. M.]. 1 9 , Petersburg, Chesterfield Co., June 1, 1917, (J. Bequaert), [A. M. N. H.]. 1 9 , " Va." [U. of 111.].
Delaware: 2 9, May 26, 1903; 1 9, June 9, 1895; 1 cf, 2 9 , no locality, [all Del. Agr. College].
North Carolina: 3 cf, 3 9, Black Mountains, [Brook. Mus.]. 1 cf, 1 9 (in coitu) May 17, 1921, (C. S. Brimley), [N. Car. Dept. Agr.].*
66 Recorded from Devon by Paxon (1908: 336); also from along Brandywine Creek, Chester County, by Johnson (1912: 109), the larvae, April 27th in wet decayed log, pupation occurred May 8th and the adults appeared May 30th.
* Eight specimens, Grimesland, mid-May, 1919, (C. S. Brimley), [N. C. Dep. Ag. Colin.; data from Brimley]

Chrysopilus thoracicus

Chrysopilus thoracicus, the golden-backed snipe fly, is a species of snipe fly in the family Rhagionidae.

Golden-backed snipe fly, Chrysopilus thoracicus Golden-backed snipe fly, Chrysopilus thoracicus

It is usually found in woodland areas of the eastern part of North America.