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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Bee Flies (Bombyliidae) » Anthracinae » Villini » Villa
Photo#346150
Syrphid Fly - Villa
Copyright © 2009 Phil Huntley-Franck

Syrphid Fly - Villa
Elkton, Douglas County, Oregon, USA
July 7, 2009
Size: approx 12mm
Good mimic. At first I thought it was a bee, then a bee fly. It even reminds me of a white Strawberry Crown Borer (clear wing) moth. Now, I'm putting my money on a male syrphid fly.

Question: Is that really a bit of blue in the middle of its back or just a camera aberration?
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Contributed by Phil Huntley-Franck on 24 October, 2009 - 4:43pm
Last updated 8 November, 2009 - 2:32pm

Moved
Moved from Bee Flies.
… Joel Kits, 8 November, 2009 - 2:32pm login or register to post comments

Well . . . ,
as you can tell, my ID skills are still quite abysmal, but at least I'm having a ball taking pictures of all these little guys and getting Oregon a little better representation on the BG data maps (thanks to expert ID skills from people like you two). For sure, I won't bet my camera on an ID, especially since I still have so much to learn about how to use it properly. Thanks to you both for the new knowledge . . . now, let me go hide my head in the sand.
… Phil Huntley-Franck, 24 October, 2009 - 9:32pm login or register to post comments

 
You'll get it, probably a lot quicker than you'd think.
I tend to focus on flies, particularly syrphids and bee flies, so that makes ID quicker and surer. Ditto with learning.
… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2009 - 11:02pm login or register to post comments

 
always wear protective goggles while hiding head in the sand
we so need your eyes in full working order to feed the guide with all kinds of OR bugs... for which you'll have to keep at least one eye out.
… v belov, 24 October, 2009 - 9:38pm login or register to post comments

money's gone; bee fly, actually
Moved from Syrphid Flies.
… v belov, 24 October, 2009 - 7:07pm login or register to post comments

 
Drat! The ever viligent =v= beat me to the pot.
This is Villa, possibly what was once IDed as Villa lateralis. Genus is currently being reviewed, so species IDs are scarce for the time beeing. Nice shot, Phil!
… Ron Hemberger, 24 October, 2009 - 7:49pm login or register to post comments

 
i specifically avoided saying it's a Villa...
...to prevent you from dubbing me Villain Gent
… v belov, 24 October, 2009 - 9:40pm login or register to post comments

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