Arthroceras is a genus of snipe flies belonging to the family Rhagionidae, within the order Diptera (true flies) and the class Insecta. Species in this genus are mid-sized to large insects, ranging from approximately 4.5 to 13 millimetres in body length. They are typically black, grey, or yellowish in coloration and are distinguished by a fairly long, tapering antenna composed of 5 to 8 flagellomeres — a character that helps separate them from related genera within the family.
Within Rhagionidae, some taxonomic authorities recognize the subfamily Arthrocerinae and place Arthroceras as its sole member genus. The family Rhagionidae as a whole comprises flies commonly known as snipe flies, named for their habit of resting on vegetation and darting out to capture prey. GBIF records three described species under the genus.
Species of Arthroceras are distributed across the Neotropical and Palearctic regions. The single species represented in the current database is Arthroceras subterminale.
Taxonomy Notes
Some taxonomic authorities place Arthroceras as the sole genus of the subfamily Arthrocerinae within the family Rhagionidae. GBIF treats the genus as accepted under Rhagionidae, order Diptera, class Insecta.
Distribution
Species of Arthroceras are known from the Neotropical and Palearctic regions, reflecting a disjunct intercontinental distribution across South/Central America and across Europe and Asia.
