Pygmy Bee Fly - Bombylius pygmaeus

Moved

Moved from Anthrax.

… Joel Kits, 14 December, 2007 - 5:21pm

Looks more like Bombylius, not Anthrax

A similar fly/ID situation here:

Compare proboscis length, wing pattern and abdomen shape, and you'll see the difference.

… Ron Hemberger, 30 November, 2007 - 5:53pm

ID change

I agree with you. After looking at other BugGuide photos of Bombylius, I'm certain this is B. pygmaeus. I will make that change.

… Janice Stiefel, 5 December, 2007 - 12:24pm

I don't think species is pygmaeus

due to color of thorax (not brown) and pattern on wings. While I'm no expert, I know it's hard to get photos of bee flies IDed to species and recommend caution in self-identifying them to that level.

… Ron Hemberger, 5 December, 2007 - 1:07pm

B. pygmaeus

I think the colour is misleading in the photo. B. pygmaeus is the only species with this wing pattern in the north-east.

… Joel Kits, 5 December, 2007 - 4:15pm

Shows what (little) I know. Now there's an expert!

Joel, is there variation in the wing pattern on these? The example I provided above is different, and there are a couple very different ones posted under B. pygmaeus. (I think at least one was from the north east.)

… Ron Hemberger, 5 December, 2007 - 6:49pm

Variation

There is some variation in how dark the shading is and well-developed the spots are. The key points in the wing pattern are the presence of those spots (only B. pygmaeus and B. pulchellus have spotted wings in the northeast) and the spots being more or less separated from each other (they form bands across the wing in B. pulchellus).

… Joel Kits, 6 December, 2007 - 11:22am

Agreed

Bombylius, not Anthrax

… Andy Calderwood, 4 December, 2007 - 10:05am