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Photo#391774
Robber Fly, Bumble Bee mimic, (Laphria spp.)  - Laphria macquarti - female

Robber Fly, Bumble Bee mimic, (Laphria spp.) - Laphria macquarti - Female
Rural Wimberley, near Pleasant Valley Crossing over the Blanco River, Hays County, Texas, USA
May 2, 2010
Size: 1.25"
Found late afternoon in meadowland populated by Ratibida columnifera and Cirsium texanum

Images of this individual: tag all
Robber Fly, Bumble Bee mimic, (Laphria spp.)  - Laphria macquarti - female Robber Fly, Bumble Bee mimic, (Laphria spp.)  - Laphria macquarti - female

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Indeed
These big spring Laphria in the south with the central tibial yellow are all macquarti for now. There are likely several cryptic species with the one in Florida definitely being a separate species and TX may harbor another. This is a female and the hair lateral to the eyes is black in females in this group. The all black mystax seems to be consistent in TX but is certainly not the norm in AR or in the FL species.

 
Thanks
...for clearing up the identification and bringing us up to date Herschel. Id is further confirmed at www.greglasley.net/laphriamacquarti. But what distinguishes this laphria as a female? I read that bumblebees frequent Texas Thistles this time of year as the thistles start blooming. They are also the host plant for the Painted Lady butterfly larva, some of which have emerged. Quite a few Asian Ladybird Beetles - Harmonia axyridis inhabit the plant as well. I have new photos of a Black Swallowtail nectaring on the flowers. Thus the robber fly bumble bee mimic must be in for a banquet out in the meadow, though I caught no sign of it today.

 
The large
Male Laphria have a visible external male genital apparatus. Females just taper to a point.

Might be
L. macquarti, based on this from the Guide:

'Yellow on first few segments of the abdomen and the tibia of the middle leg."



Just a possibility to consider while waiting for an expert to tell you what it really is. :)

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