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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Orthorrhapha" (Brachycera excluding Aschiza and Schizophora) » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Laphriinae » Bee-like Robber Flies (Laphria) » Laphria affinis
Photo#93698
Robber Fly with Soldier Beetle - Laphria affinis
Copyright © 2006 Arlene Ripley

Robber Fly with Soldier Beetle - Laphria affinis
Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Glendening Preserve, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, USA
September 23, 2006
Is this a Bumble Bee?
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Contributed by Arlene Ripley on 24 January, 2007 - 9:23pm

Robber
Is it on your clothes? It is a fine shot if it is or isn't. It appears to be a Laphria affinus. They are known for landing on upright surfaces though I have not had that species perch on me.

Oh and bumblebees don't have the mouthparts to suck a beetle hands free like this. But these mimics fool everyone.
… Herschel Raney, 24 January, 2007 - 9:50pm login or register to post comments

 
Herschel,
Thanks. Stupid of me to call it a bee. I had just finished looking at the guide and concluded Laphria affinus was my specimen. I was leading a butterfly walk when this robber fly landed on one of the participants allowing me the photo op.
… Arlene Ripley, 24 January, 2007 - 10:07pm login or register to post comments

Robber Fly!
You have a great picture of a robber fly! It mimics a bumble bee. If you look at the fly family Asilidae you can probably find a match pretty easily. Here is a website that has keys.

http://www.geller-grimm.de/asilidae.htm
… Jason Hansen, 24 January, 2007 - 9:30pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes.....
Robber Fly. The mimic certainly fooled me--I should have known it wasn't a bee with that beetle in its mouth!
… Arlene Ripley, 24 January, 2007 - 10:05pm login or register to post comments

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