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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Stratiomyomorpha » Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae) » Hermetiinae » Hermetia » Hermetia comstocki
Photo#136956
Colorful fly - Hermetia comstocki
Copyright © 2007 Jeff Gruber

Colorful fly - Hermetia comstocki
Chiricahua National Monument, Cochise County, Arizona, USA
August 11, 2007
Size: .5-.75 inch
Encountered at Bonita Creek Picnic Area just inside the park. Approximately 5200 feet elevation.

Images of this individual: tag all
Colorful fly - Hermetia comstocki Colorful fly - Hermetia comstocki
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Contributed by Jeff Gruber on 15 August, 2007 - 6:37pm
Last updated 16 August, 2007 - 3:01pm

Moved
Moved from Hermetia.
… Martin Hauser, 16 August, 2007 - 3:01pm login or register to post comments

Great find, Jeff.
An interesting critter, inspiring commentary to match!
… Ron Hemberger, 16 August, 2007 - 11:10am login or register to post comments

Wow
Stunning wasp mimic. I never noticed that the darkened forewing may mimic the folded dark wing of Polistid wasps.

Do you have a lateral facial shot that shows the antenna?
… Herschel Raney, 15 August, 2007 - 8:38pm login or register to post comments

 
I agree...
This mystery Fly is all too easy to mistake for Polistes exclamans or similarly colored species on the field. That's not even a Syrphid, as venation does not match. An expert of Diptera is badly needed.
BTW, such half-darkened wings are fairly widespread among wasp-mimic flies, in order to mimic Vespid folded forewing as you state. Even some bees present this feature.
… Richard Vernier, 16 August, 2007 - 2:08am login or register to post comments

 
Fly
From the wing veins close inspection I think I can see the dm cell and this is thus a Soldier Fly and may be one of the other species of Hermetia from the SW. Will look more later.
… Herschel Raney, 16 August, 2007 - 7:10am login or register to post comments

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