Size
body length 6-7 mm, plus proboscis about 3 mm; overall length 9-10 mm
Identification
dark brown with white hairs along anterior and lateral margins of thorax, plus posterior corners of thorax behind wings; proboscis long and slender; wings clear except for groups of blackish spots coalesced to form bands or large blotches (a diagnostic feature)
Range
Ontario and northeastern states, south to Georgia
Food
larvae are parasitoids of sweat bees (Halictidae), feeding on prepupae or, less commonly, young pupae in the host's nest
Remarks
Thanks to Joel Kits for identification of
this image as
B. pulchellus.
See Also
Bombylius pygmaeus has distinctly separated wing spots, not coalesced into bands (
see photo at Virtual Exhihit on Canada's Biodiversity)
Bombylius major is larger with bicolored wings containing no spots
Print References
Packer, L. 1988. The effect of Bombylius pulchellus (Diptera; Bombyliidae) and other mortality factors upon the biology of Halictus ligatus (Hymenoptera; Halictidae) in southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 66:611-616.
Internet References
live adult images (Giff Beaton, Georgia)
close-up image of wing showing spots coalesced into blotches (Giff Beaton, Georgia)
article abstract on food of larva [sweat bees; Halictidae] (Laurence Packer, Canadian Journal of Zoology)
example foodplant of adult [Marsh Violet] (John Hilty, Illinois)
presence in Minnesota; list (Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota)
