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Hover Fly

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Interesting Bee
Location: Jaffery, NH, White Arrow Trail, Mt. Monadnock
July 4, 2011 10:50 pm
My cousin and I were walking down an access road from the main path (White Arrow Path) at Mt Monadnock, in Jaffery NH,
When we spotted a bee, just hovering there.
We walked past the bee, and it did not move, using quite a bit of energy to stand in one spot constantly. So we walked on, and there was another one, facing the SAME direction and hovering, this time I approached it and it moved in a triangle pattern and went back to the same spot, exactly the same spot, only this time its abdomen throbbed and a stinger emerged. At that point we moved on.
Then we saw a third, then fourth…
I took a photo by the 7th one, they were in 20 or so foot intervals all the way down the path, all facing the same direction and very determined to stay in their one by one inch spot at a specific height, very calculated seeming spot in the air.
What kind of bee is this and what could it possibly be up to staying in one spot for this long, and this specific to that ONE one inch cube of airspace???
Signature: -Vaughn Saball

Hover Fly

Hi Vaughn,
This is not a bee, but rather it is a Hover Fly in the family Syrphidae.  Many Hover Flies mimic bees for protection.  The behavior you described is very interesting.  We hope we are able to research a species name for you.  Alas, the photo you provided is an excellent action photo, but it doesn’t provide us with a view of the markings which may make species identification quite difficult.  Meanwhile, you can read some general information on Hover Flies on BugGuide.  We did locate this scholarly article published by the Cambridge Entomological Club in 1929 entitled
Notes on the Syrphidae Collected at Jaffrey and Mount Monadnock, N.H., with a Description of a New Species by C. W. Johnson.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Deer Fly

On · Category: Horse Flies and Deer Flies · Add Comment

Swirly-eyed fly
Location: Black Mountain, North Carolina
July 4, 2011 7:43 pm
I was wondering if you could identify this fly for me – I haven’t been able to figure it out. It was a little smaller than a regular house fly. Found it sitting calmly on my car windshield a few days ago.
Thanks!
Signature: Dakota

Deer Fly

Dear Dakota,
We believe we have identified your Deer Fly as Chrysops fulvistigma, by matching the photos on BugGuide.  The genus page on BugGuide gives detailed instructions for taking photos of four different views of specimens whenever possible to assist in proper identification.  It is possible we have the species wrong, but we are relatively confident with the genus.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Attack of the Robber Flies

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Wasp-moth monster

Robber Fly

Wasp-moth monster
Location: Gordonville, Texas
July 4, 2011 2:13 am
I had 6 of these things attack me yesterday. This was the first one I found and took pictures of that wasnt mangled after i got ahold of it. I dont know if there is more of them around, but i think so. This happened July 3, 2011, midday, in north central texas, Gordonville, to be exact. No idea, but I’m a grown ass man and when 5 divebombed me, I almost peed myself. theres a postcard in the pic for size reference.
Signature: JTGrace

Robber Fly

Dear JTGrace,
We are fascinated by your letter, and we have some information for you, and we plan to continue to research this matter.  This is a large Robber Fly, however, we are having difficulty identifying it on BugGuide.  It reminds us of a Hanging Thief in the genus Diogmites, or a closely related genus, because of its physical structure.  You can see other Hanging Thieves on BugGuide.  We could not locate any matches though, and the next subfamily that has members with a similar structure is Stenopogoninae, but again, not matches on BugGuide.  Our searches did lead us to this posting on BugGuide of Orthogonis stygia, and though we are quite certain it is not your species, this information is interesting:  “This species was named over 50 years ago on the basis of half a dozen females. Only one more female had been found since. However I have been finding males regularly in deep wooded canyons in the shady understory on well-rotted oak logs usually on a slope. The males are very possessive of their logs, even challenging humans who come too close, with wasp-like threat displays, and by following you around as long as you are present. I have found them in three east-Arkansas counties. If areas such as I have described are searched, it may turn out that this extremely rare robber fly is not so rare after all. Norman Lavers.”  Perhaps a group of male Robber Flies was defending territory in the hope of luring a mate, and that could explain the attack you experienced.  We have requested additional assistance with this interesting Robber Fly.

Eric Eaton Comments
Daniel:
I agree it is something related to a hanging thief, but maybe not in that genus….Can’t explain the behavior he is describing, unless they were actually catching mosquitoes or some other insects that were in close proximity to the people…..
Eric

Robert Cannings Responds
Hi Daniel:
Eric Fisher and I both say it’s a Saropogon [See BugGuide]species. Eric, who’s much better at these than me, thinks it’s probably S. dispar, which is common in parts of Texas.  As for the 5 or 6 dive bombers, ….. Honestly, we can’t understand what might have happened.
Regards,
Rob

Ed. NOte: Last summer, both Robert Cannings and Eric Fisher assisted in identifying another member of the genus, Sarpogon combustus.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Crane Fly

On · Category: Crane Fly · Add Comment

Mosquito Catcher?
Location: Central Lake, Michigan
July 3, 2011 9:32 am
Hi!
Looove your site, and your helpfulness! I have today, three photos of what my mother always called a ”mostquito catcher”. I was hoping that you would be able to tell me what this bug is (or if she was correct). And if you know if they can bite/harm people. I have a close up of the body, a view of the top, and a side view for you (s/he was a great model, lol). This insect has very long legs, and is about the size of my palm. Thanks in advance for your wonderful help!
Signature: Mom in Michigan

Crane Fly

Dear Mom in Michigan,
This is a Crane Fly and they do not prey upon mosquitos.  We have also heard them called Mosquito Hawks.  Crane Flies do not bite.

Thank you so much! How interesting! I really appreciate you taking time to let me know!

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Phantom Crane Fly

On · Category: Crane Fly · Add Comment

Mosquito/Spider/Zebra/Ninja
Location: Jacobson, MN
June 29, 2011 8:23 pm
So for 19 years of living out here in the boondocks, I’ve been…not terrorized, but generally startled and freaked out by these little buggers flittering around the house. Nobody else had ever seen them until my sister in law came over and we caught one, and I was finally able to see it up close. Could someone possibly clue me in as to what they are? They’re no real nuisance, I’m just curious after all these years.
Signature: Slightly Triumphant

Phantom Crane Fly

Dear Slightly Triumphant,
We need to make this brief.  This is a Phantom Crane Fly, Bittacomorpha clavipes.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Giant Robber Fly

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What is this?
Location: Boulder, CO — Rocky Mountain foothills
June 30, 2011 10:38 pm
I ran across this insect while hiking in the hills around Boulder, CO. It’s about the size of my insect finger, and it flies as well. Otherwise, the picture should give you all the details you need.
Signature: IngridM

Giant Robber Fly

Hi IngridM,
This is one of the Giant Robber Flies in the genus Promachus.  The species that are pictured on BugGuide all look quite similar and we do not feel confident taking the identification to the species level.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mydas Fly

On · Category: Mydas Flies · Add Comment

What’s this bug?
Location: Lake Texoma, Oklahoma
June 28, 2011 10:41 pm
My son took this picture of this bug on the shores of Lake Texoma, on the Oklahoma side, the weekend of June 25 of this year.
It’s rather large, maybe 2in. long and flies.
I cannot find it in your extensive library, which is impressive and very helpful.I wasn’t even sure what ”type” of insect to start the search. Didn’t find it under ”wasps” or ”bees” or ”flies”.
Help!
Signature: A. Gordon

Mydas Fly

Dear A. Gordon,
We admit that our vast archive can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to start.  This is a Mydas Fly, Mydas clavatus, and it is an excellent mimic of Spider Wasps in the family Pompilidae.  Once we lightened your photo a bit, the detail in the head and body was really revealed.

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Long Legged Fly

On · Category: Long Legged Flies · Add Comment

Long-legged fly (Condylostylus sipho?)
Location: Naperville, IL
June 26, 2011 7:38 am
Dear Daniel~
I found this long-legged fly on a hydrangea leaf today. Although I am pretty sure it is of the genus Condylostylus, I am less certain of its species. Condylostylus longicornis wings are unmarked, and its legs are blacker. Condylostylus sipho has the wing markings of this specimen, as well as its yellow upper legs, but the body shape is different. So sorry to trouble you again, but I thought this was a really beautiful fly, and I understand they are predators of even smaller insects. Their legs resemble mosquitoes! Thank you very much!
Signature: Dori Eldridge

Long Legged Fly

Hi Dori,
Even though we cannot confirm for certain your exact species, we are thrilled to be able to post these excellent photos of a Long Legged Fly.

Long Legged Fly

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What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination