Identification
Wasp mimic, resembles
Polistes, or perhaps
Yellowjacket. Yellow-striped abdomen. Eyes have pigment which enhances the wasp-like appearance.
Range
Eastern and central United States, north to Ontario and Quebec, south to Texas and Florida. Reported from Minnesota, Oklahoma, North Carolina.
Habitat
Fields with flowers, etc.
Season
September-November (North Carolina, low elevations), June-October (North Carolina, mountains),
Food
Adults take nectar from a variety of flowers
Remarks
Widespread species in eastern United States, apparently.
Print References
Marshall, color photograph--470.8
(1)
Thompson, F.C. 1996. Spilomyia Flower Flies of the New World (Diptera: Syrphidae). Memoir Entomol. Soc. Wash. 18:261-272.
Internet References
Syrphidae of Oklahoma
(3)
NCSU Entomology Collection entry for the genus lists just three species from that state, with specimen numbers: alcimus (3), fusca (9), longicornis (49).
Insects of Cedar Creek--pigment on eyes faded in that specimen
Syrphidae of Ontario--photographs of
Spilomyia alcimus and
Spilomyia longicornis Contributed by
Cotinis on 17 August, 2004 - 7:30am
Additional contributions by
Hartmut WischLast updated 4 November, 2006 - 9:21pm
