Subject: Some sort of tachnid fly?
Location: Andover, NJ (Sussex Cty)
July 16, 2014 10:45 am
Hi,
Hoping you can help me with an id on this small fly. It was about 1/4 inch in length, and was in my flower garden just sitting on a leaf. The eyes make me think it is some sort of fly, maybe in the tachnid family?
Thanks!
Deborah
Signature: Deborah Bifulco
Bee Fly
Hi Deborah,
You are correct that this is a Fly, but we are not prepared at this time to provide a family identification. We are posting your image as an Unknown Fly and we hope to be able to provide you with a more specific identification in the future.
Update: July 19, 2014
Thanks to a comment from Cesar Crash of the Brazilian site Insetologia, we now know that this Bee Fly is Anthrax argyropygus. According to BugGuide, it is: “widespread in United States into Mexico, also Cuba.”
I like ThisRelated posts:
Bombyliidae species.
Many look quite similar.
http://www.treknature.com/gallery/Asia/India/photo265732.htm
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bombyliidae_-_Hemipenthes_morio-1.JPG
Thanks Cesar. We combed the Bee Fly images on BugGuide and could not find a match. The wings look like those of several Bee Flies, but the body appears to be shaped differently.
I was not sure what location was it, only now I see the map. So yeah, it must be on BugGuide, I’ll check a little more.
I’m still on Bombyliidae and would say Anthrax argyropygus.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BtNPwm9HNRQ/U8q9hmhVFhI/AAAAAAAATPY/jWXw9bNrLr4/s1600/Anthrax_WTB_BugGuide.jpg