Plain-tailed Hanging Thief Diogmites neoternatus (Bromley, 1951)    Synonyms: Hanging Thief.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Asilidae   >   Genus Diogmites   

Status:

This is one of the most common species of the genus Diogmites east of the Rockies. They can be found among vegetation in the understory of open forests, or along fields edges, where they often capture large prey items. This genus gets its common name from their peculiar habit of hanging from vegetation by the front legs while feeding.

Description:

Very black. Note very black thorax pattern with a divide in the outer stripes and a relatively thin abdomen (S. Collins, pers. comm.). Hangs by front legs while holding prey.

Relationships:

Preys upon a variety of large flying insects including bees, wasps, and flies.

There are 195 records in the project database.

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Plain-tailed Hanging Thief with small wasp prey in Howard Co., Maryland (8/5/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Wicomico Co., Maryland (9/15/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/20/2017). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief at Randle Cliff, Calvert Co., Maryland (7/15/2008). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/16/2013). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/27/2015). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief robberfly in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/21/2013). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/8/2013). Photo by Benjamin DeHaven. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Baltimore City, Maryland (7/26/2007). Confirmed by Herschel Raney/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/25/2006). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/17/2011). Determined by Norman and Cheryl Lavers/BugGuide. Photo by TJ Walters. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/12/2015). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Howard Co., Maryland (7/18/2013). Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/22/2018). Photo by Barbara Speckart. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief eating a Swamp Spreadwing in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/27/2018). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

A Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/24/2014). Photo by Keith Eric Costley. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/30/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/23/2014). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/23/2014). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/30/2020). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/1/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/22/2021). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Harford Co., Maryland (7/22/2022). (c) John Landers, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by John Landers via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/31/2021). (c) Wendy R Fredericks, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

Plain-tailed Hanging Thief with prey in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/10/2019). (c) Wendy J. Alexander, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Wendy Alexander. (MBP list)


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