Cyrtopogon ruficornis

Cyrtopogon ruficornis is a species of fly in the robber flies family. It is found in parts of Central and Southern Europe.[1][2]

Female, dorsal view

Cyrtopogon ruficornis
Front view
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Asilidae
Genus: Cyrtopogon
Species:
C. ruficornis
Binomial name
Cyrtopogon ruficornis
(Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms

Asilus ruficornis Fabricius, 1794

Distribution

This species occurs in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, and former Yugoslavia.[2]

Description

Cyrtopogon ruficornis can reach a body length of about 12–20 mm (0.47–0.79 in). In the antennae of these robber flies the postpedicels[3] are red. Tergites 2-4 are nearly completely covered with densely arranged yellow hairs. Tibiae are at least in part red. In males tarsi of front legs are distinctly elongated.[4]

In the male's genitalia epandrium is partially divided, apically rounded, sclerotized and covered with long hairs, while hypandrium shows at the apex two projections. Also the flattened dististylus is apically pointed. Aedeagus is tubular with two straight, pointed projections. In the female's genitalia the ovipositor is sclerotized, with six acanthophorites on each side.[5][6]

Biology

Adults can be found from April to August. This species has a complex courtship. Usually the males dance in front of the females showing the shining black tip of the abdomen and raising his body on middle and hind legs.[7] As other robber flies, they are predators on other insects.

References
  1. Bisby F.A., Roskov Y.R., Orrell T.M., Nicolson D., Paglinawan L.E., Bailly N., Kirk P.M., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. Catalogue of life
  2. Fauna Europaea
  3. Fritz Geller-Grimm & Torsten Dikow Terminology in Information on Robber Flies
  4. Fritz Geller-Grimm Photographic atlas and identification key to the RobberFlies
  5. Weinberg, Medeea, Bächli, Gerhard Comparative analysis of Swiss species of Cyrtopogon Loew (Diptera, Asilidae), based on the genitalia of both sexes
  6. Fritz Geller-Grimm & Torsten Dikow Glossary in Information on Robber Flies
  7. Rod Preston-Mafham, Ken Preston-Mafham The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour
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