Thick-headed Fly - Physoconops bulbirostris

Subtle, but can see this is a female

Just ran into this post again...and realized it's a female.

The "plate"-like extension below the last visible abdominal segment was the initial cue, and then I realized the theca (quite large in this species, and folded forward against the venter) can be vaguely discerned here behind the hyaline portion of left wing.

So I updated the gender box for the post.

… Aaron Schusteff, 13 July, 2018 - 12:13pm

Moved

Moved from Conopinae.

For ID details, see comment accompanying series of images in the post below:

… Aaron Schusteff, 25 January, 2014 - 10:52pm

Physoconops bulbirostris

Cool! Thanks Aaron.

… Lynette Elliott, 26 January, 2014 - 8:15am

Moved

Moved from Physoconops or Physocephala.

Moved to the Conopinae subfamily page...since the only two (continental north of Mexico) genera in the subfamily are Physoconops and Physocephala, so having the "Physoconops or Physocephala" guide page node in the BugGuide taxonomic tree is superfluous.

… Aaron Schusteff, 12 January, 2014 - 2:00pm

Thanks Aaron

Maybe we should just delete that page?

… Lynette Elliott, 12 January, 2014 - 5:09pm

Yes, Lynette, I agree

I was going to write a post suggesting that on a forum earlier...but had to do a number of errands first. But now it's done...see here.

… Aaron Schusteff, 12 January, 2014 - 10:59pm

This looks an awful lot like Physocephala tibialis...but...

On closer examination it appears to be in genus Physoconops, since the middle femora do not appear basally swollen, the "terminal segment + style" looks longer than in typical Physocephala, and the pulvilli do too.

Also, referring to the primary character used in most keys, the crossvein r-m (located at the distal tip of the thin, lighter brown sliver at the center of the upper wing in the image) appears to be near the middle of the discal cell, rather than well beyond.

Guess it's best to leave it here, until someone who know Physoconops well can confirm or correct. If it is Physoconops, it's a remarkably good trickster imitator of Physocephala tibialis!!

… Aaron Schusteff, 31 December, 2013 - 12:20am

A fly, actually

It does look like a wasp, but like all flies it only has one pair of wings and a pair of halteres. You can see one of the halteres in this photo. It's the white club shaped thing kind of behind the base of the wing on the side facing the camera.

I'm not positive, but this might be a fly in the family conopidae.

… Troy Bartlett, 4 February, 2005 - 7:09pm

Thick-headed Fly

I agree Troy,

Especially when you compare it to the other photos in the guide...

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 5 February, 2005 - 9:39am

Fly!

I'm sure this won't be my last fly in my bee section!

… Lynette Elliott, 4 February, 2005 - 7:14pm

Lovely portrait.

This is a really nice image, Lynnette, I wouldn't apologize for anything:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 7 February, 2005 - 2:44pm