Bee Fly - Villa - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Flies.

… Naomi Smith, 6 September, 2007 - 8:33pm

Villa looks promising, but I'm no expert

Check wing veins to see if there's a possible match:

Looks as if Steve had the same idea.

… Ron Hemberger, 17 July, 2007 - 9:52pm

Bee Fly

Thank you both Steve and Ron. It just looked different from the previous one I posted.
Naomi

… Naomi Smith, 17 July, 2007 - 10:44pm

Re: Looked Different

Abdomen color certainly is different, but that's apparently a minor point. First, look at whether wing is patterned - and how so - or clear. Then check veins.

Most bee flies here are IDed to genus, I believe. I think body color doesn't really come into play until it goes to the species level, but this is just a guess and I'm no expert.

… Ron Hemberger, 18 July, 2007 - 9:48am

I observed

both the golden ones, like you imaged here, and the black and white ones on a gravel bar in Missouri. The black and white males approached both types of females indiscrimenently but the golden ones were never receptive. So even though we don't have an expert ID'ing them based on color I concluded that there is probably a species difference.

… Steve Scott, 18 July, 2007 - 10:52am

Bee Fly?

Thanks Steve, to my eye, the wing venation looked right, so I thought they should look alike. I learn something new everyday.
Naomi

… Naomi Smith, 18 July, 2007 - 3:18pm

My images

like this have ended up on the Villa Genus page.

… Steve Scott, 17 July, 2007 - 9:51pm

Naomi, I think it's safe to move your post there.

On second look, Villa does seem right.

… Ron Hemberger, 6 September, 2007 - 8:18pm

Bee Fly?

Moved to Villa Genus Page.
Naomi

… Naomi Smith, 6 September, 2007 - 8:36pm