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Photo#923446
south Texas beeflies - Diadasia

south Texas beeflies - Diadasia
near Edinburg, 20 miles north, rural - this is south Texas, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA
May 14, 2014
Size: honey bee size
There were several clusters rolling around in an area with many small (more or less 1/2 inch) burrow opening into bare, dry sandy soil within a road. I wondered if they were competing for prey, mates or insects into which they would lay eggs. These looked similar to something identified as a beefly parasitoid in as early ID request.

Male Diadasia fighting over females, it seems
The females seem to nest in aggregation, so males compete for them near nest sites. This is likely either D. australis or D. rinconis based on the comma-shaped process on the hind legs.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Not Bee Flies, actual bees
Others will be able to tell you what kind.

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