Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » Orthorrhapha » Asiloidea » Robber Flies (Asilidae) » Laphriinae » Bee-like Robber Flies (Laphria) » Laphria thoracica
Photo#66045
Fly or Bee? - Laphria thoracica
Copyright © 2006 Jess Wunman

Fly or Bee? - Laphria thoracica
Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, USA
July 1, 2006
Size: ~3/4 inch
Is it a fly or a bee? (I suspect fly.) What attributes would distinguish it? Your help is appreciated.
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Jess Wunman on 23 July, 2006 - 8:30am
Last updated 15 August, 2006 - 6:49am

Laphria
Appears to be the yellow form of Laphria thoracica. Also said by most to be the finest bumble mimic in the entire genus. Especially these plump females.
… Herschel Raney, 23 July, 2006 - 8:58pm login or register to post comments

Robber fly (Asilidae)
Lack of true hind wings and short antennae betray a fly rather than a bee.
That said, this one robber fly is an extraordinary Bumblebee-mimic. Even most Laphria sp., the so-called bee-like robber flies, are not so stoutly built.
… Richard Vernier, 23 July, 2006 - 9:12am login or register to post comments

 
I agree
I agree, this Bumble Bee mimic is more convincing than most—so plump!

On the other hand, those eyes really look like fly eyes.
… Stephen_WV, 23 July, 2006 - 9:27am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you all very much! J
Thank you all very much!

Jess
… Jess Wunman, 24 July, 2006 - 8:14pm login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact