Downlooker Snipe-fly

Name: Downlooker Snipe-fly

Scientific name: Rhagio scolopacea

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: Snipeflies are predators, which can often be found sat on fence posts or sunny tree trunks, facing downwards, on the lookout for passing prey. The catch smaller flying insects in flight, taking them back to their look-out post to eat. This is the most frequently found species, about 2cm long and mainly orangey brown in colour, with dark markings down the length of the body. The larvae live in the soil and are also predators.

How to identify: There are 15 species of Snipefly in the UK, which can be very difficult to tell apart. This is the commonest species.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 10
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: Snipeflies probably got their name because they are particularly common in marshy grassland and wet corners of fields, the kind of places where Snipe can be found.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc