bee fly - Bombylius validus

HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

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) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Bee Flies (Bombyliidae) » Bombyliinae » Bombyliini » Bombylius » Subgenus Bombylius (Bombylius Subgenus Bombylius) » Bombylius validus

Photo#1622276

Copyright © 2018 Larry Reis

bee fly - Bombylius validus

fen farm prairie near Lime Springs, Howard County, Iowa, USA
June 23, 2018
Size: 10 mm

I'm curious to know if this bee fly might be Bombylius validus. From the remarks about B. validus I read, the species seems to be rather rare. It was found on a dry sandy section in wetter prairie habitat.

Images of this individual: tag all

tag · login or register to post comments

Contributed by Larry Reis on 25 December, 2018 - 8:44am
Last updated 28 December, 2018 - 3:30pm

Moved

Yes, I think B. validus. The wings are brown to the posterior margin, and it lacks the white spots on the abdomen and shiny black patch on the head B. mexicanus should have. I don't think there are other options in your area.

Moved from Bombyliinae.

… Joel Kits, 28 December, 2018 - 3:30pm

Bombylius validus

Thanks so much for confirming the ID on this bee fly, Joel! It kept moving its wings for much of the time even when sitting on the ground, so I was lucky to get a few photos of the wing detail when they finally quit buzzing. I'm glad to know we've got some suitable habitat in the area that can support this relatively rare bee fly.

… Larry Reis, 28 December, 2018 - 3:59pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 25 December, 2018 - 8:56am

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:

Printer Friendly Version