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Photo#308170
White Faced Bee - Spilomyia fusca

White Faced Bee - Spilomyia fusca
Bastress Township, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, USA
July 22, 2009
Size: Approximately 1"
I found this bee sampling my sneezeweed flowers yesterday. Although some of the markings appear to be that of a wasp or hornet, the face has me really puzzled. I have not found anything with the totally white eyes and the rather short nose. Also, from what I am seeing, the wasps are generally much thinner, and I am not picking up a pronounced "wasp waist".

Images of this individual: tag all
White Faced Bee - Spilomyia fusca White Faced Bee - Spilomyia fusca

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Thanks
Thanks for the quick ID. Mother Nature sure has a sense of humor. I'm wondering if the wings should have been more of a give away as to it being a fly?

Envy....
Great images of a fabulous fly. I saw one last Saturday, but only managed a shot of its a** before it flew off for good (sigh).

Looks like
Spilomyia fusca. Nice shots!

What a great mimic!
It looks so much like the bald faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata

But this is no hornet. It has to be some type of fly

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