Fly - Villa hypomelas - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#222849

Copyright © 2008 Sharon Perrault

Fly - Villa hypomelas

Hammond, Ontario, Canada
August 4, 2008
Size: 1 cm or so

I watched this fly as she(?) walked around our patio area, rubbing her behind into any sandy areas she could find, including around ant nests. I'm assuming this is a common species, because I started seeing more and more of them as the month progressed, but I'll be darned if I can figure out what she is. :)

Images of this individual: tag all

Contributed by Sharon Perrault on 7 September, 2008 - 7:20pm
Last updated 8 September, 2008 - 9:17pm

Villa hypomelas

This is V. hypomelas. The hair on tergite 4 is entirely black, which distinguishes this from the similar V. nigropecta.

… Joel Kits, 8 September, 2008 - 9:21pm

Thanks

to everyone for the ID. :)

… Sharon Perrault, 9 September, 2008 - 6:00pm

This is one of the pretty, northern species of Villa (Bombyliidae). I haven't got a name for you right now, but these northern and montane Villa are easier to place to species than the southern ones.

… Andy Calderwood, 8 September, 2008 - 8:35pm

wow!

thats some good mimicry!

… Vespula Vulgaris, 7 September, 2008 - 7:22pm

Yes...

it's amazing. :)

… Sharon Perrault, 8 September, 2008 - 8:05pm

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