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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Aschiza » Syrphid Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Milesiini » Callicera » Callicera erratica
Photo#103059
Callicera erratica
Copyright © 2007 Cotinis

Callicera erratica
Fews Ford, Eno River State Park, Orange County, North Carolina, USA
April 6, 2007
Size: 13 mm
This buzzed down onto the ground on a cool spring day. I was sure it was a bee, then looked more closely. I picked it up and placed it on a picnic table for some photos and measured it. Thanks to Eric Eaton for correcting my (mis)identification, and to Martin Hauser for a further, and interesting correction--see comments.
(The yellowish dots are pollen grains from deciduous and coniferous trees--ubiquitous at this time of year.)

This site seems to be good for rare flies--this was found very near where Roger Rittmaster and I found a Ceraturgus robber fly:

Images of this individual: tag all
Callicera erratica Callicera erratica Callicera erratica
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Contributed by Cotinis on 13 April, 2007 - 2:37pm
Last updated 15 April, 2007 - 1:55pm

Moved
Moved from Microdon.
… Martin Hauser, 14 April, 2007 - 2:22pm login or register to post comments

Callicera
Must be a good year for this genus, after this is the second pic in a few days of this very rare genus of Syrphids! And the other pic was the first time this genus has been fotographed on bugguide!
Great find - one of the rarest Syrphid genera in North America!
… Martin Hauser, 14 April, 2007 - 2:22pm login or register to post comments

Moved--thanks Eric
Moved from Soldier flies.
(Refers to Eric's comment below)
Now, there, I thought it was a Microdon at first, especially due to the behavior--down on the ground, maybe looking for ants, but the antennae made me think it was a Stratiomyid. Maybe the little whiskers present on Microdon wore off.

Many thanks!
… Cotinis, 13 April, 2007 - 4:58pm login or register to post comments

Syrphidae?
I'm thinking what you have there is a very worn and tattered (missing almost half of each wing) specimen of Microdon in the family Syrphidae. I don't see any spines on the thorax, which most soldier flies of that ilk have.
… Eric R. Eaton, 13 April, 2007 - 3:15pm login or register to post comments

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