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
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Volucellini » Copestylum » mexicanum-violaceum group (Copestylum mexicanum-violaceum group) » Mexican Cactus Fly (Copestylum mexicanum)
Photo#875619
Unknown Fly - Copestylum mexicanum
Copyright © 2013 Beck

Unknown Fly - Copestylum mexicanum
Cortaro, Arizona, USA
December 12, 2013
I am terrible with diptera. This fly was found pollinating a lemon tree.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Arianna Weisbly on 13 December, 2013 - 12:43pm
Last updated 27 February, 2015 - 3:52pm

Moved
Moved from Copestylum.
… Martin Hauser, 27 February, 2015 - 3:52pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… John F. Carr, 14 December, 2013 - 8:05am login or register to post comments

Perhaps Copestylum mexicanum
Perhaps Copestylum mexicanum - Mexican Cactus Fly?

(not a firm ID, just a gestalt guess)
… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 13 December, 2013 - 1:28pm login or register to post comments

 
I was thinking the same thing when I first saw this
(with the same disclaimer - I don't claim to be an expert on flies)
… Chris Mallory, 13 December, 2013 - 2:12pm login or register to post comments

 
Definitely Copestylum. Equally definitely not C. mexicanum.
Note venation - more widespread and darker than the more familar fly. We've had several post of this species recently, and Martin has indirectly confirmed that it's different.
… Ron Hemberger, 13 December, 2013 - 5:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Interesting - and good to kno
Interesting - and good to know, thanks! Looks like the last species key for Copestylum was published in the 1930s... (Curran 1939)
… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 13 December, 2013 - 5:36pm login or register to post comments

 
Note to myself:
When we figure out species on this guy, revisit C. mexicanum to verify all are correct. (I fear not, including at least one of my posts.) This species is less shiny and more "beaky", I believe.
… Ron Hemberger, 13 December, 2013 - 5:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Example:
… Ron Hemberger, 13 December, 2013 - 5:34pm login or register to post comments

 
I figured it might be something special
Thanks for the correction Ron. At least I was able to come up with the correct genus!
… Chris Mallory, 13 December, 2013 - 5:33pm 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 © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact