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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Milesiini » Milesiina » Spilomyia » Bald-faced Hornet Fly (Spilomyia fusca)
Photo#213745
hornet mimic fly - Spilomyia fusca
Copyright © 2008 Andrew Reding

hornet mimic fly - Spilomyia fusca
Keene, Essex County, New York, USA
August 11, 2008
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Contributed by Andrew Reding on 14 August, 2008 - 9:17am
Last updated 31 August, 2008 - 11:25am

Male!
:)
… Bob Biagi, 19 August, 2015 - 10:54am login or register to post comments

Wow!
Great bug! I think with those antennae and eyes that this is probably a fly - maybe a tabanid? Cool!
… Ken Schneider, 14 August, 2008 - 9:32am login or register to post comments

 
Syrphid fly, actually.
Hey, if you're called "flower fly", it could be advantageous to mimic something nastier. Horse fly or hornet would be good choices.

I'll try to find this later. If you have a chance meanwhile, search on "hornet mimic" and see what pops up. Also, browse Eristalinus among the syrphids. (They're often the ones with fancy eyes.)

(Written later) I didn't go over this one thoroughly, but have a look:
… Ron Hemberger, 14 August, 2008 - 9:39am login or register to post comments

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