Species Villa fulviana - Tawny-tailed Bee Fly

FULVIANA: from the Latin "fulvus" (tawny) + "anus" (the opening at the lower end of the alimentary canal) - a reference to the reddish-orange color near the tip of the abdomen, or "tail-end" in this species

approx. 8-12 mm

variable in size in color but lacks transverse bands on abdomen; tawny hairs near tip of abdomen is apparently the basis of the species epithet; lack of black hairs on sides of abdomen distinguishes this species from all other northeastern Villa

all of North America except possibly southeastern US (ranges south at least to North Carolina)

late summer/early fall

may have two forms (?) - clear-winged (as shown on the Cedar Creek site, Minnesota) or with blackish shading along the costa (all specimens in U. of Guelph collection, Ontario); perhaps the variety "nigricauda" in the U. of Maine collection is one of these forms? Var. nigricauda is treated here in BugGuide as part of Villa fulviana.

pinned adult image (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)

occurrence in North Carolina; list (North Carolina State U.)