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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Milesiini » Temnostomina » Temnostoma » balyras, barberi, obscurum, or trifasciatum (Temnostoma balyras, barberi, obscurum, or trifasciatum)
Photo#20450
Syrphid Fly - Temnostoma - female
Copyright © 2005 Bruce Marlin

Syrphid Fly - Temnostoma - Female
West Chicago Prairie, DuPage County, Illinois, USA
June 14, 2005
Size: 18mm
This fly is holding its front legs (black) in front of the face so they look like the jointed antennae of a wasp. Clever, eh? The effect is really quite convincing when you see one strike the pose. Also, Eric has pointed out the darkened leading edge of the fly's wing mimics a vespid's wing.
You can see a larger photo of this fly, as well as comparison shots to a potter wasp at Cirrus.
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Contributed by Bruce Marlin on 15 June, 2005 - 9:55pm
Last updated 12 September, 2015 - 12:10pm

Moved
Moved from Temnostoma.
… Kelsey J.R.P. Byers, 12 September, 2015 - 12:10pm login or register to post comments

Temnostoma species
Syrphidae. Eric Eaton also mentioned the front legs/antennae behavior in commenting on this photo.
… Robin McLeod, 15 June, 2005 - 11:47pm login or register to post comments

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