Several of these were hovering very steadily over the trail through a swamp on a cool spring morning at Howell Woods, Johnston County, NC (USA). They made no effort to perch and bite when I approached, so I thought they were males. Eyes looked wrong for those, but perhaps it was just the angle of the photo. An expert on BugGuide confirmed that this was a male. Looks to be:
Hybomitra lasiophthalma (male, ~14 mm)
bugguide.net/node/view/17585
Also posted at:
bugguide.net/node/view/2234636
Edit. Tough group, but it seems to key to this species using:
Goodwin and Drees. 1996.The horse and deer flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) of Texas. Southwestern Entomological Society, 1996
key to males, p. 79
Link available at:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/632941
Warm and cloudy out. Under a large limestone rock, flipped, near creek greenbelt, in shade of ligustrum and oak.
Slow moving, keeled scales seen clearly
Warm and cloudy out. Under a large limestone rock, flipped, near creek greenbelt, in shade of ligustrum and oak.
Slow moving, keeled scales seen clearly
Found dead on road; very unusual this time of the year. Presumably came out during the warm weather earlier on and perished during the more recent cold weather.
Found dead on road; very unusual this time of the year. Presumably came out during the warm weather earlier on and perished during the more recent cold weather.
A young one, skinny and only 2" long, with white "bird poop" on its head.
A young one, skinny and only 2" long, with white "bird poop" on its head.