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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Milesiini » Criorhinina » Sphecomyia » Sphecomyia vittata
Photo#177358
Wasp looking fly - Sphecomyia vittata - female
Copyright © 2008 Benoit Guenard

Wasp looking fly - Sphecomyia vittata - Female
Cary, Wake County, North Carolina, USA
April 14, 2008
Size: 35-40mm
Two individuals in a cavity of the bark of a pine tree.
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Contributed by Benoit Guenard on 16 April, 2008 - 7:33pm
Last updated 11 May, 2008 - 11:05am

Moved
Moved from Flies.
… Beatriz Moisset, 11 May, 2008 - 11:05am login or register to post comments

Mimicry
Wow! Now THAT'S impressive!
If it wasn't for the eyes & antennae I would have fallen for the mimicry!
… Jonas Insinga, 16 April, 2008 - 9:39pm login or register to post comments

Sphecomyia vittata (Syrphidae)
Seemingly the female member of the copula. There is a page for this rare, but widespread Hover Fly species in BG (subfamily Eristalinae, tribe Milesiini).
… Richard Vernier, 16 April, 2008 - 8:56pm login or register to post comments

Amazing Antennae
Even the antennae appear evolved to look wasplike.
… Stephen Hart, 16 April, 2008 - 8:04pm login or register to post comments

 
They did
And contrary to most wasp-like flies with somewhat elongated antennae( e.g. Stratiomys sp. soldier Flies, Chrysotoxum sp. Hover Flies), the two first segments are elongated, while the third one (which bears the arista) has an almost normal Cyclorrhapha conformation.
Not even the "elbow" between 1rst and 2nd segment is lacking, to mimic that of wasps between scapus and flagellum.
… Richard Vernier, 17 April, 2008 - 8:12am login or register to post comments

Very!
clicked on this image thinking that I could ID a yellowjacket species.... very good mimic!
… Vespula Vulgaris, 16 April, 2008 - 7:37pm login or register to post comments

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