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Robber Fly from the Congo

Flying spider from the congo?
Location: Congo
February 11, 2011 3:41 pm
My friend who is in the Congo took this picture this week. Here’s her description:
Saw the most amazing and bizarre bug a few days ago. No one seems to have a clue what it is. Anyone out there feel like finding the answer? It was about 1.5-2 inches, flies like a bumble bee, looks like part fly, part tarantula, part exotic, part scary.
Signature: David Guralnick

robber fly congo david 300x207 Robber Fly from the Congo

Robber Fly

Dear David,
This fantastic creature is a Robber Fly, but we are uncertain of the species.  We don’t believe there is much online information to help identify this Robber Fly.  Robber Flies are predators and this individual looks very much like some North American Robber Flies in the genus Laphria, the Bee-Like Robber Flies.  You can see some North American examples on BugGuide.

Cool, thank you for your response.  Is it strange that, considering how many different types of Robber Flies there are, that one from North America would look so much like one in Africa?
David Guralnick

Karl supplies some information
Re: Robber Fly from the Congo – February 11, 2011
Hi Daniel and David:
I believe that your spectacular Robber Fly belongs to the genus Hyperechia. Members of this genus mimic the large Carpenter Bees in the genus Xylocopa and the larvae feed on the bee larvae. It is thought that the Robber Fly disguise enables them to get close enough to lay their eggs inside the bee’s nesting burrows. There are a number of African species but based on a key to the genus Hyperechia (in Oldroyd 1970. Studies of African Asilidae (Diptera) i. Asilidae of the Congo basin) this one is likely H. floccose. I think this genus has appeared on WTB? at least once before, in a posting by Robert (danielj), Unknown Robber Fly from Tanzania, August 16, 2008. Robert’s Robber Fly looks like it could be H. marshalli, or perhaps H. bifasciata. Regards.  Karl

Posted 17 February 2011 § Robber Flies ‡ Comments (1) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Fruit Flies: But What Species???

Daniel, Flies mating, but what kind?
Location: South Pasadena, CA
February 13, 2011 10:01 pm
Hello. I found this couple on one of my roses last week. They stayed there over twenty minutes, and then flew away still in their embrace. Probably annoyed by me. They were pretty small (perhaps 1/4 inch), and I’m not sure I’m seen this type of fly before.
Signature: Barbara

fruit flies mating barbara 300x221 Mating Fruit Flies: But What Species???

Mating Fruit Flies, we believe

Hi Barbara,
We believe these are Fruit Flies in the family Tephritidae, which is represented on BugGuide.  The closest match seems to be the genus Campiglossa, which is represented by several species on BugGuide which notes:  “Adult females oviposit in flower heads of plant species in the family Asteraceae. The short, stout larva of Campiglossa live in the ovaries.“

Posted 14 February 2011 § Fruit Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Mydas Fly from Costa Rica

Subject: unknown giant 1” by 2”wing span fly costa 2001
Location: costa rica
February 12, 2011 6:00 pm
I had this guy in my collection since march 2001 i think its from costa rica ,Iam an avide entomologist and photographer of insects .I rasie and realise silkmoths from the us aswell but for the life of me i cant find this guy or girl giant fly. looks to be simaliar to a robber fly but its huge and a single pair of wings ,I hope you dont consider this carnage
Signature: ryan

robber fly collection costa rica ryan 300x206 Mydas Fly from Costa Rica

Mydas Fly Specimen

Hi Ryan,
We posted a photo of a Robber Fly from Arizona a few years ago and we never properly identified it, however, it looks very similar to your specimen.  While we do not consider your collection to be carnage, we wish you had taken better care of this magnificent creature that probably looked much more impressive while it was alive and trying to capture prey.  We are posting both of your images because the overexposed image shows details that are absent in the darker shot.

robber fly collection costa rica ryan 2 300x195 Mydas Fly from Costa Rica

Mydas Fly Specimen

Correction From A Facebook Post
Hi Gad,
Eric Eaton commented on WhatsThatBug.com’s post.
Eric wrote: “Not a robber fly but a “mydas fly,” family Mydidae. Very cool just the same!”
See the comment thread
Reply to this email to comment on this post.
Thanks,
The Facebook Team

The Bugman Replied
Thanks Eric.  We looked on BugGuide for Mydas Flies, but nothing came close to this coloration.  Do you suppose they mimic Tarantula Hawks?

Eric wrote: “No question it mimics a Pepsis wasp! You can’t be easily faulted, the head of this specimen looks a bit mangled….”

Posted 12 February 2011 § Robber Flies ‡ Comments (0) °
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Mt Washington: but is it eating the Olives???

fruitflys
Location:  Mt Washington, Los Angeles, California
February 9, 2011
Hi Daniel,
This year I finally had my olive produce olives, however ever single olive was infested with maggots or worms.  I saw a couple of these around, and I finally was able to catch one yesterday.  I think this may be the same problem i have had w/ my Quince for years.  I spray organic stuf, but it doesn’t seem to work, and I treally want to keep organic.  I was wondering if this is the med fly or the med olive fly?  So I scanned he hell out of it.  Any suggestions Obi won?
thanks-rourk

fruit fly rourk mt washington 300x231 Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Mt Washington: but is it eating the Olives???

Med Fly

Hi Rourk,
We thought we might be able to post a photo of the Olive Fruit Fly thanks to your email, but alas, the images of the Olive Fruit Fly, Bactrocera oleae, that are posted on BugGuide do not match your particular Fruit Fly.  According to BugGuide:  “Introduced from the Mediterranean region to California; recorded first time in Los Angeles in October 1998. So far it is restricted to California, where it is considered a serious pest.  It is hoped that a recent (2008) introduction of a hymenopteran parasitoid, Psyttalia cf. concolor will control this pest.“  We would deduce that you probably do have an infestation of Olive Fruit Flies ruining your crop, however, the Fruit Fly in your photo might be feasting on another of the exotic and rare fruits you have growing in your Mt Washington garden.  Your specimen appears to be a Mediterranean Fruit Fly or Med Fly (see BugGuide) and it is ironic that it has appeared at the start of Governor Jerry Brown’s third term in office since he was governor during the infamous Med Fly eradication of the 1980s.  According to BugGuide:  “larvae feed and develop on many deciduous, subtropical, and tropical fruits (citrus, peach, pear, apple) and some vegetables, sometimes tunneling through the pulp and eventually reducing it to a juicy inedible mass” and “One of the world’s most destructive fruit pests, and the most economically important fruit fly species. When it has been detected in Florida and California, especially in recent years, each infestation necessitated intensive and massive eradication and detection procedures so that the pest did not become established. [U. of Florida]  In California, a state government program releases large numbers of sterile males, which are a not-uncommon sight in some places. A female (they have a visible ovipositor on the rear tip of the abdomen) would be a sign of an infestation, and should be reported immediately.“  Given the variety of fruits that may be eaten by the Med Fly Maggots, we would not rule out that the Med Fly has been ruining your olives.

what a cool nice post,I’ll call the ag dept. again, thanks Daniel, and my spelling is sooooo bad.  thanks-Rourk

Posted 10 February 2011 § Fruit Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged: ,

Native Drone Fly from Australia

Sydney bee or fly
Location: Warrawee, Sydney, Australia
February 4, 2011 11:15 pm
Can you identify this bee or fly. A number of them appeared in my garden in Warrawee (Sydney, Australia)a few days ago. They congregate on or under bush leaves with some shade from the summer sun.
I’ve checked the native bee site and it doesn’t appear there.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Signature: Mike Warren

drone fly australia mike 300x202 Native Drone Fly from Australia

Native Drone Fly

Hi Mike,
Probably so it will not be confused with the introduced European Drone Fly, Eristalis tenax, your species which we identified on the Brisbane Insect Website, Eristalinus punctulatus, is referred to as the Native Drone Fly.  According to Oz Animals:  “The Native Drone Fly is a brightly coloured hover fly with large strange spotted eyes. The body is black and orange striped. They have a hovering flight and make a droning noise like a bee, hence the common name.“  The common name Native Drone Fly might create confusion in places other than Australia.

drone fly australia mike 2 300x206 Native Drone Fly from Australia

Native Drone Fly

Daniel,
Many thanks, I saw the Brisbane Insect Website but couldn’t find a matching photo.  It is definitely the one, with very distinctive markings.  So I guess I don’t need to worry about a swarm or think about honey!!  Given the very warm weather, they may have been seeking moisture and shade from the heat wave conditions we had last week.  It’s cooled down now, so will be interesting to see if they stay around.
Many thanks for your help with identification.
Regards,
Mike Warren

Posted 06 February 2011 § Syrphid Flies ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Horse Fly Larva

Found this in the Water…….
Location: Great Bend Zoo, Great Bend Kansas
February 2, 2011 5:06 pm
While tending to a busted waterline at the Great Bend Zoo, we found 2 of these swimming around in the freezing water. Temperature was about -2 with a windchill factor of -10 at the time we found them.
Signature: Johnny Z.

horse fly larva johnny 300x132 Horse Fly Larva

Horse Fly Larva

Hi Johnny,
You found a Horse Fly Larva.  You can compare your photo to the one on the Horse Flies and Deer Flies of Kentucky website.  Female Horse Flies which are also known as Gadflies feed upon blood and lay their eggs on plants near the water’s edge.  Most Horse Flies have aquatic larvae, but some Horse Fly larvae develop in damp earth.

Daniel Marlos,
Thank you so very much for such a fast response.  We weren’t quite for sure what it was, but we had guessed a larva of some sort.
Again, thank you for the fast response icon smile Horse Fly Larva
Johnny Z.
-Zoo Keeper/Safety Officer, Great Bend-Brit Spaugh Zoo

Posted 03 February 2011 § Horse Flies and Deer Flies § Maggots ‡ Comments (0) ° Tagged:

Giant Robber Fly from Australia

Big Bee / Wasp?
Location: Kalgoorlie Western Australia (Desert)
January 30, 2011 1:18 am
Hi,
can u identify this thing? It was fouund at my hsbands work yesterday (Gold mine, Kalgoorlie Western Australia) after it stung / bit him, mild irritation went away quickly. I have tried to identify it withot success.
Thanks
Signature: Sarah Ryan

giant robber fly australia sarah 300x196 Giant Robber Fly from Australia

Giant Robber Fly

Hi Sarah,
This is a Robber Fly in the family Asilidae.  Robber Flies are predators, and though they do not prey upon humans, they can bite if carelessly handled.  We searched the Insects of Brisbane website and we believe we have identified your specimen as a Giant Robber Fly, Phellus olgae.

Posted 30 January 2011 § Robber Flies ‡ Comments (2) ° Tagged:

Rattailed Maggot from New Zealand

Bug identification
Location: Raumati Beach, North Island, New Zealand
January 24, 2011 8:06 pm
Found this floating/swimming in a rainwater filled pot plant saucer in the back garden. It’s about 5 cm long from tip to tail. Wondering what it is.
Signature: Regards, Karen

rattailed maggot new zealand karen 300x228 Rattailed Maggot from New Zealand

Rattailed Maggot

Hi Karen,
This is the larva of the Drone Fly and it is commonly called a Rattailed Maggot.

Posted 25 January 2011 § Maggots § Syrphid Flies ‡ Comments (0) °

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