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Stilt-Legged Fly (Rainieria antennaepes) On foliage at a dense mixed forest edge. <br />
The species name &quot;antennaepes&quot; translates to &quot;antenna foot.&quot;  Rainieria antennaepes is an effective ichneumonid wasp mimic, often holding up its front two legs and waving them as if they were antennae.<br />
You can really see the similarity here when comparing these two observations:<br />
Christine Young&#039;s Mesostenus thoracicus<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/66469/ichneumon_wasp_-_mesostenus_thoracicus.html" title="Ichneumon Wasp - Mesostenus thoracicus"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/66469_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1763596810&Signature=mBt1g9y9yunJ9bkirR51lMWuNik%3D" width="200" height="154" alt="Ichneumon Wasp - Mesostenus thoracicus Habitat: This wasp landed briefly on a plant that was on the edge of a meadow/disturbed deciduous forest.   Geotagged,Mesostenus thoracicus,Summer,United States,ichneumon,ichneumonidae,wasp" /></a></figure><br />
 Geotagged,Rainieria antennaepes,Summer,United States Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Stilt-Legged Fly (Rainieria antennaepes)

On foliage at a dense mixed forest edge.
The species name "antennaepes" translates to "antenna foot." Rainieria antennaepes is an effective ichneumonid wasp mimic, often holding up its front two legs and waving them as if they were antennae.
You can really see the similarity here when comparing these two observations:
Christine Young's Mesostenus thoracicus

Ichneumon Wasp - Mesostenus thoracicus Habitat: This wasp landed briefly on a plant that was on the edge of a meadow/disturbed deciduous forest.   Geotagged,Mesostenus thoracicus,Summer,United States,ichneumon,ichneumonidae,wasp

    comments (6)

  1. That is one cool insect, did not expect it to be a fly at all. Posted 5 years ago
    1. It surprised me too. It was really bizarre to watch its behavior. This is similar to what I saw today:
      Posted 5 years ago
      1. This is a Covid 19 hygene instruction video, please send the fly video. Posted 5 years ago
        1. Bahaha! That is so perfect! Posted 5 years ago
  2. Great spotting, Lisa! I didn't realize they were mimics! Posted 5 years ago
    1. I didn't until I researched it a bit! At first glance I definitely thought it was a wasp! Posted 5 years ago

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''Rainieria antennaepes'' is a species of stilt-legged flies in the family Micropezidae found in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. The name "antennaepes" means "antenna foot". They frequently hold their white-tipped front legs up and wave them around in a manner that makes them appear like the antennae of ichneumonid wasps.

Similar species: True Flies
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
View Flown Kimmerling's profile

By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jul 1, 2020. Captured Jul 1, 2020 11:28 in 227 Oakman Rd NE, Oakman, GA 30732, USA.
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/18.0
  • 1/41s
  • ISO250
  • 100mm