Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
BugGuide Gathering
Pack Forest
Washington State
July 10-12, 2009
Details...

Photos from the 2009 gathering
 
Photos from the 2008 gathering in Tennessee
 
Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Bee Flies (Bombyliidae) » Anthracinae » Exoprosopini » Exoprosopa » Exoprosopa fasciata-group (Exoprosopa Exoprosopa fasciata-group) » Exoprosopa fasciata
Photo#224591
Bee Fly (bee mimic) unknown species - Exoprosopa fasciata
Copyright © 2008 Tim Lethbridge

Bee Fly (bee mimic) unknown species - Exoprosopa fasciata
Archbold Biological Station Lake Placid , Highlands County, Florida, USA
September 6, 2008
There were quite a number of these flies observed. Observed nectaring on several varieties of flowers and landing on loose sand and planting their posterior into the sand (laying eggs?). I have several good photos including one of what I believe to be the egg left behind.

Images of this individual: tag all
Bee Fly (bee mimic) unknown species - Exoprosopa fasciata Bee Fly unknown species - Exoprosopa fasciata Syrphid Fly (bee mimic) unknown species - Exoprosopa fasciata
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Tim Lethbridge on 13 September, 2008 - 2:37pm
Last updated 24 March, 2009 - 6:16pm

Reminds us more of Bombyliidae
such as , but we don't know enough to tell you which one, sorry :(
… john and jane balaban, 13 September, 2008 - 3:14pm login or register to post comments

 
I think you are right
Wow, thank you. I am finding insect photography fascinating but the more I learn the more I realize how much I still have to learn. Thanks.
… Tim Lethbridge, 13 September, 2008 - 6:45pm login or register to post comments

 
A brief FYI on bee flies
While this guy could be considered an exception, it's usually very important to get a clear shot of wing veins (aka venation). When you go to compare your images with others, start by looking at the wings and go to the body secondly.

If you'd like a bit more info - including egg laying - check out: http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/diptera/Behavior.htm

Hope you start shooting syrphids, too. There are some special to Florida in at least one genus (Toxomerus).
… Ron Hemberger, 13 September, 2008 - 11:16pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you for the tip Ron. I
Thank you for the tip Ron. I do have some shots of this fly that show the wings better but I don't know enough to know what is important. I will keep that tip in mind for flies in the future though.

Thanks,
Tim
… Tim Lethbridge, 14 September, 2008 - 8:35am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Site Map
Contact