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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Aschiza" » Hover Flies (Syrphidae) » Eristalinae » Volucellini » Volucella » undescribed Volucella sp. (Volucella undescribed Volucella sp.)
Photo#386058
Imitating Mr. Bumble - Volucella - male
Copyright © 2010 R. Berg

Imitating Mr. Bumble - Volucella - Male
Alameda County, California, USA
April 16, 2010
Resting on lemon leaf, afternoon.

Images of this individual: tag all
Imitating Mr. Bumble - Volucella - male Imitating Mr. Bumble - Volucella - male
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Contributed by R. Berg on 16 April, 2010 - 10:52pm
Last updated 23 December, 2021 - 10:27pm

Moved
Moved from Volucella bombylans-complex.
… Even Dankowicz, 23 December, 2021 - 10:27pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Syrphid Flies.
… R. Berg, 17 April, 2010 - 11:37am login or register to post comments

Definitely Volucella bombylan
Definitely Volucella bombylans; best BugGuide photos of this beautiful fly!

"Wy would anyone pretend to be a bumblebee, anyway?" You must be lucky...to never having been stung by one!
… Eric Fisher, 17 April, 2010 - 11:00am login or register to post comments

 
Well, I don't try to pet them
I suppose they deceive hungry birds as they deceive backyard photographers. These mimics are so humiliating. Again I forgot to take note of the eyes! However, your first sentence takes out some of the "sting."
… R. Berg, 17 April, 2010 - 11:36am login or register to post comments

Looks somewhat different...
...but definitely reminiscent of Volucella bombylans. Could also be some new flavor of Copestylum, as Eric already pointed out. Both genera are in the same tribe...
… Harsi S. Parker, 17 April, 2010 - 2:08am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Bumble Bees.
… R. Berg, 17 April, 2010 - 1:05am login or register to post comments

Those are the antennae of a fly.
An excellent mimic!
… Domingo Zungri, 17 April, 2010 - 12:01am login or register to post comments

 
Yes, a fly!
Very unique, too. My suspicion is that this is a species of Copestylum, in the family Syrphidae.
… Eric R. Eaton, 17 April, 2010 - 1:00am login or register to post comments

 
Drat! Fooled again!
I'll move it, I'll move it.

Wy would anyone pretend to be a bumblebee, anyway?
… R. Berg, 17 April, 2010 - 1:04am login or register to post comments

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