LARGE Black Fly – Copestylum mexicanum?
Location: Hawthorne, CA
October 23, 2011 7:51 pm
I notice you have some photos of this large, bold fly here at your site. My question is, is mine also a Mexican Cactus Fly? It’s another ”new to the yard” bug, and I didn’t notice that it’s body was blue . . .
Signature: Thanks, Anna Carreon

Mexican Cactus Fly

Hi Anna,
Your identification of the Mexican Cactus Fly is correct.  The body is actually black with a blue sheen.  The blue sheen only shows when the light strikes the fly’s body from the right angle.

Mexican Cactus Fly

Thanks Daniel!  I noticed that in a related post you say that this is a skittish fly.  For some reason, our yard seemed to calm this particular specimen.  It stayed for long periods of time and didn’t seem to mind the camera being very close to it.  Not the first skittish bug this has happened with.  We wonder why this is.
Anna

Location:  Mt Washington, Los Angeles, California
October 10, 2011
When Daniel arrived at the What’s That Bug? offices after a long day at work, this Mexican Cactus Fly was buzzing loudly at the porch light.  This elusive fly does not like to sit still in the garden, and Daniel has never been successful at getting a photo of a living specimen.  He quickly snatched this one and chilled it for a photo opportunity.  The incandescent lights and ungainly position of the Mexican Cactus Fly don’t really make the most attractive photo, but at least there is a photo to post of this skittish species.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on rotting cactus. Adults feed on nectar from various flowers.”

Cactus Fly

0   I like This

Fly which looks like a wasp
Location: Western NY
August 30, 2011 8:33 pm
Hi bugman! Long time no visit. Thanks for the last ID about a year ago or more. I was out carousing the fields of goldenrod and was checking out all of the bee varieties when I noticed this little guy wasn’t a wasp/bee at all, but pretty close! Curious as I could not find this in the fly section.
There are some other little bees that did not like my camera that I was trying to catch for an ID, but I had no luck. Almost looks like a honeybee caring sacks of pollen but definitely not as they are smaller. Hopefully next time.
Signature: Mark W

Flower Fly

Dear Mark,
It was very astute of you to recognize that this very effective wasp mimic is actually a fly.  It is a member of the family Syrphidae, and the members of the family are often called Flower Flies or Hover Flies.  Your individual is in the genus Spilomyia, and the angle of your photograph makes it impossible to make out the abdominal markings.  We cannot be certain of the species, but we believe this is most likely Spilomyia sayi.  You can compare your photo to the images posted to BugGuide.

Daniel – What’s This Fly?
Location: Hawthorne, CA
August 21, 2011 8:21 pm
Hello,
I think I’m done taking pictures for the day, but here is a fly that is new to me. I can’t remember the name of the succulent whose tiny bloom it was feeding on, but have attached a picture of it. Thanks for everything!
Signature: Anna Carreon

Flower Fly

Hi Anna,
Though it doesn’t resemble your other Flower Fly that we recently posted, this is also a Flower Fly in the family Syrphidae.  You will see by browsing through the images on BugGuide that this is a very diverse family.

Thanks very much.  I do realize that this is a very diverse family.  I did get a little more excited than normal about this particular fly because it’s so unlike most flies I’ve seen.
Anna

Ed. NOte:  August 23, 2011
We believe we have correctly identified this Flower Fly as Pseudodoros clavatus based on photos posted to BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae feed on aphids.”

0   I like This