Celyphid Beetle Fly

Description:

Celyphus sp. - the Celyphid Beetle Fly was a very rare sight here in our part of the Philippines, just four or five years ago. I cannot find any scientific information to verify that statement, but I remember very well that when I first photographed one on Sep 9, 2018, I showed my pictures to numerous local people (Family, friends, neighbours and just about anybody who was interested) and not one single person had ever seen one before. However, these "Beetle Flies" seem to be appearing slightly more often. The Celyphus sp. shown here was spotted yesterday and that was a surprise because all of my previous spottings were in the months of August, September and October. Now I have seen this one in April.

Habitat:

Spotted in our backyard on Fragrant Premna (Premna odorata) locally known as Alagaw. I have spotted Celyphid Beetle Flies on Citrus Trees more than any other plant and although this one was spotted on a Fragrant Premna, it is worth mentioning that the Premna was a pot plant, under a Kalamansi Tree - Philippine Lime (Citrus microcarpa). Plant Identifications: http://www.stuartxchange.com/Alagaw.html...... and http://www.stuartxchange.org/Kalamansi.h...

Notes:

My previous spottings of this Celyphus sp. - https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/71... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/35... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/31... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/40... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/95... https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/13...