Rhagio immaculatus

Appearance

Thigh 1 yellow; abdomen mostly yellow, spotless, shiny;
9-12mm

Naming

Snipe flies have a long, thin proboscis protruding from their head- which is where the name ‘snipe’ comes from.

Distribution

West and Central Europe.

Habitat

Woodlands on moist soils, in the Netherland numerous along Alnus-woods on peat soils. Adult habitat and habits: adults sitting on leaves.
While adult snipe flies have the ability to fly and tend to be found in wooded habitats, the larvae are more commonly observed nestled down in moist soil, in close proximity to stagnant water, or hiding in decaying vegetation.

Food

Adults will prey on aphids, as well as other small insects that they can subdue.
The larvae of snipe fly species are also predatory. While they cannot yet fly or capture larger prey with the same efficiency as their adult counterparts, they will still feed on small invertebrates that are nestled in the moss or decaying wood.