Fly - Zelia vertebrata - BugGuide.Net

Moved

Moved from Zelia.

… John F. Carr, 5 September, 2016 - 3:57pm

Tachnidae: Zelia--compare Z. vertebrata

This is a Tachnid fly, genus Zelia, perhaps Z. vertebrata. I had seen a photo of Z. vertebrata on the web and was so impressed by the strangeness, I wrote a guide page for the genus. Oklahoma Wild Things has a photo of Z. vertebrata, and this appears to be a very good match for your photo, so perhaps that is what you have. At least the genus (Zelia) seems pretty certain.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 15 August, 2004 - 3:28pm

Oops!

posted comment on wrong page :-)

… Jim McClarin, 1 April, 2006 - 10:35am

Looked familiar

I found a similar one awhile back:

If I recall it seemed relatively large (larger than a housefly) and was certainly distinctive. Might be something different but definitely similarly marked.

… Troy Bartlett, 15 August, 2004 - 9:33pm

probably Z. vertebrata, I feel

That's got to be the same thing, Zelia vertebrata, or a very similar species. The markings and abdominal hairs are distinctive, I feel. It is also pretty common in the NCSU collection, with 18 pinned--most common member of the genus in the collection. Found in Oklahoma, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina--has the distribution of a widespread eastern deciduous forest species. That's my gut feeling, anyway, for what that's worth.
Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 16 August, 2004 - 6:44am