Cyrtopogon ruficornis is a species of fly in the robber flies family. It is found in parts of Central and Southern Europe.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 lifeFauna Europaea
Distribution This species occurs in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, and former Yugoslavia.
Description Cyrtopogon ruficornis can reach a body length of about . In the antennae of these robber flies the postpedicelsFritz Geller-Grimm & Torsten Dikow Terminology in Information on Robber Flies 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.Fritz Geller-Grimm Photographic atlas and identification key to the RobberFlies
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.Weinberg, Medeea, Bächli, Gerhard Comparative analysis of Swiss species of Cyrtopogon Loew (Diptera, Asilidae), based on the genitalia of both sexesFritz Geller-Grimm & Torsten Dikow Glossary in Information on Robber Flies
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.Rod Preston-Mafham, Ken Preston-Mafham The Encyclopedia of Land Invertebrate Behaviour As other robber flies, they are predators on other insects.
References
External links Natura mediterraneo Galerie-insecte Diptera.info