hangingflies
(Bittacus spp.)
Overview • Description • Distribution • Taxonomy
Overview |
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Bittacus is a genus of hangingfly. It occurs in Europe, Africa, eastern Asia, and North and South America. It is uncommon in Minnesota. It is by far the most diverse genus of hangingflies. There are more than 120 species worldwide, 8 species in North America north of Mexico, and at least 3 species in Minnesota. They are found in woodlands and bottomlands, near streams, in humid, well-shaded areas with dense vegetation. Adults feed on smaller insects, especially flies. They catch prey with their middle and hind legs, inject it with saliva, suck out the soft body parts, and discard the empty exoskeleton. They rest with their wings folded over the abdomen. |
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Larvae resemble caterpillars and feed on organic matter, including dead insects. The common name of the family Bittacidae is hanging flies, and refers to their spending most of their time dangling from the underside of twigs and leaves by their front legs. |
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Description |
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Bittacus hangingflies resemble large crane flies. Adults are ¾″ to 1″ (20 to 26 mm) long. The body is long, soft, cylindrical, and yellowish-brown. The genitalia are not swollen. The head extends downwards. The genus name Bittacus is from a Greek word meaning “parrot”, and apparently refers to the long “beak”. There are four wings and no halteres. The forewings are narrow at the base. The legs are very long and slender. The front legs are modified for grasping. The middle and hind legs are modified for capturing prey. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The fifth segment can be folded back on the fourth and has a single claw at the tip. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 10/25/2022 | ||||
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Mecoptera (scorpionflies, hangingflies, and allies) | ||
Family |
Bittacidae (hangingflies) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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brand-winged hangingfly (Bittacus stigmaterus) hairy-horned hangingfly (Bittacus pilicornis) thin hangingfly (Bittacus strigosus) |
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Synonyms |
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Neobittacus Thyridates |
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Common Names |
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This genus has no common name. The common name of the Family Bittacidae is hangingflies, and it is used here for convenience. |
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Visitor Photos |
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Babette Kis |
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Bittacus sp. hangingfly Bittacus sp., hangingfly, on Solomon's seal by the hedgerow, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. Photographed July 15, 2022. |
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Alfredo Colon |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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| Bittacus Hanging Fly, with Prey margy stewart |
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About
Oct 11, 2019 It looked like a salmon-colored crane fly, caught by a spider--but bugguide.net corrected my first imprression. It's a Hanging Fly (genus Bittacus), a predator of smaller flies. Here it is with a Syrphid fly in its tarsi. Bottomland prairie restoration, 9-22-19. Geary Co., Kansas. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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| Babette Kis 7/15/2022 |
Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI Bittacus sp., hangingfly, on Solomon's seal by the hedgerow, Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. Photographed July 15, 2022. |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/7/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 2/22/2020
Last Updated: