Tiger Bee Fly Spiritual Meaning: Unlocking Nature’s Mysteries

The tiger bee fly, with its striking appearance and unique behavior, has captured the curiosity and fascination of many people, leading some to explore its potential spiritual meaning.

It’s not every day that you come across a creature as intriguing as the tiger bee fly – a fly that mimics bees and parasitizes the larvae of carpenter bees. What could this mysterious insect signify in the spiritual realm?

As with other animals and insects, the tiger bee fly’s symbolism may vary depending on individual beliefs and cultural backgrounds. For some, this fly might represent transformation, adaptation, and the delicate balance of nature.

The tiger bee fly’s parasitic relationship with carpenter bees demonstrates how interconnected all living beings are, and how each species plays a unique role within the ecosystem.

Tiger Bee Fly Spiritual Meaning and Life

Tiger bee flies are fascinating creatures with a unique life cycle. Their larvae are parasitoids that feed on carpenter bee larvae, making them a natural predator of these bees.

They typically hover near wooden surfaces such as fences and roof overhangs, laying their eggs near entrance holes of carpenter bee tunnels.

When considering spiritual meaning, it’s important to keep in mind the natural role tiger bee flies play in controlling carpenter bee populations. In this sense, they can symbolize balance and interconnectedness in nature.

Some may see their presence as a reminder to appreciate the intricate relationships that exist within the natural world.

In addition to their ecological significance, tiger bee flies display striking patterns on their wings, which can inspire awe and intrigue.

The bold markings on their wings are thought to resemble the stripes of a tiger, hence their name. For some, these patterns may evoke feelings of strength and tenacity.

Life and Spiritual Attributes of Tiger Bee Fly:

• Natural predator of carpenter bees
• Symbolizes interconnectedness in nature
• Bold, striking wing patterns signifying strength and tenacity

It’s important to remember that attributing spiritual meaning to tiger bee flies, or any other creatures, is subjective and varies from person to person.

However, through observing and learning about these fascinating insects, you can discover your own unique appreciation for their role in the natural world and potentially connect with deeper, personal meanings.

Symbolism and Energy in Cultures

In many cultures, animals have held symbolic significance. Native American traditions, for example, use animal imagery to communicate spiritual beliefs and values.

You may have heard stories about totem poles, which serve as records of family, clan, and personal stories.

Similarly, other ancient religious and spiritual systems, such as Celtic, Buddhism, Hinduism, Maya, and Japanese, have embraced animal symbolism.

They often connect animals to divine or supernatural energies. For example, in Buddhism, the elephant represents mental strength and the ability to overcome obstacles.

While exploring the symbolism of the tiger bee fly, it is essential to consider the cultural context. The tiger bee fly is known for its parasitic relationship with carpenter bees.

Its larvae feast on carpenter bee larvae, ultimately killing their hosts. This predatory behavior might inspire various spiritual interpretations based on the culture.

For instance, in Native American, Celtic, or Hindu cultures, you can imagine the tiger bee fly symbolizing:

• Persistence
• Hidden strength
• Overcoming adversity

In contrast, other cultures might emphasize the predatory aspect or its parasitic nature, highlighting:

• Deception
• Transformation
• Conflict

Just like with any other symbolic animal in different cultural contexts, the interpretation of the tiger bee fly’s spiritual meaning may vary, shaping people’s spiritual and religious beliefs.

Remember, when discussing the symbolic significance of animals across various cultures, it is vital to approach the topic respectfully and recognize the unique traditions and beliefs each culture holds dear.

Tiger Bee Fly as Spirit and Totem Animal

Connection with Strength and Courage

The tiger bee fly, as a spirit animal, represents strength and courage. Just as these insects are known for their fierceness and ability to overcome obstacles, you too can embody these qualities.

By connecting with your inner tiger bee fly, you can tap into greater bravery and resilience.

Adaptability and Persistence

In nature, the tiger bee fly displays impressive adaptability and persistence. They persevere despite challenging environments.

Embrace your inner tiger bee fly, and you’ll find the ability to adapt, be resilient, and keep moving forward through tough times.

Harmony and Balance in Life

Achieving harmony and balance in your life is essential for well-being. The tiger bee fly, despite having the aggression of a tiger and the diligence of a bee, is able to maintain balance within its ecosystem.

Let the tiger bee fly spirit guide you to find equilibrium and maintain harmony in your life.

Significance of Transformation and Change

Embracing change and personal growth are crucial elements of the tiger bee fly spirit. Just as the insect undergoes metamorphosis, you too can experience a transformative journey.

Allow the tiger bee fly to guide you in embracing change and taking the necessary steps to grow and evolve.

Wealth and Prosperity Symbols

While not commonly known, tiger bee flies can symbolize wealth and prosperity. By invoking the energy of this spirited creature, you may find opportunities for abundance in your life.

Be open to receiving and cultivating wealth, just as the tiger bee fly does in its natural environment.

Spiritual Significance of Protection

The presence of a tiger bee fly can also signify protection and defense. Their fierce nature can serve as a reminder to tap into your inner strength to shield yourself and those around you from harm. Invoke the spirit of the tiger bee fly when you need to feel a sense of security and safety.

Inspiration and Guidance

Channeling the wisdom and vision of the tiger bee fly spirit animal can lead to inspiration and guidance. Allow this powerful creature to help you navigate difficult situations and provide the insight needed to overcome obstacles.

Interconnection between Bee and Tiger

The tiger bee fly is a unique blend of the qualities of both a tiger and a bee. It symbolizes the strength and fierceness of the tiger, along with the hardworking and industrious nature of a bee.

Embrace the harmonious balance between these two energies to further your personal growth and development.

Power, Confidence, and Healing

When you connect with the tiger bee fly spirit, you can tap into its power, confidence, and desire for healing. Its potent energy can show you the importance of believing in yourself and fostering growth, both physically and emotionally.

Creativity and Uniqueness of Spirit

The tiger bee fly encourages you to express yourself creatively and embrace your uniqueness. By following this spirited animal’s lead, you can learn to let your light shine, showcasing your talents with confidence and pride.

Role in Fertility and Productivity

When we think of bees, we often think of fertility and productivity. The tiger bee fly, as a spirit animal, can help infuse your life with an increase in these qualities.

By aligning with the tiger bee fly’s energy, you may witness results in your personal and professional life.

Importance of Freedom and New Beginnings

Lastly, the tiger bee fly spirit serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom and new beginnings. As they begin their life in a transformed state after metamorphosis, they embody that fresh start.

Embrace the symbolism of the tiger bee fly to encourage exciting opportunities and the freedom to create a life aligned with your desires.

Interconnectedness of Tiger Bee Fly with Others

The tiger bee fly, a fascinating creature within the insect world, plays a role in maintaining the balance in its ecosystem. This distinctive wing-marked insect has a unique relationship with other beings, emphasizing the concept of interconnectedness.

Tiger bee flies are known to parasitize the larvae of carpenter bees. The female tiger bee fly deposits her eggs in places where carpenter bees have laid their eggs.

As the tiger bee fly larvae grow, they consume the carpenter bee larvae, affecting the population of carpenter bees.

This interaction plays a part in the intricate web of connections between various other organisms. Some of these connections include:

• Plants: Since carpenter bees are pollinators, their population can directly affect the growth and reproduction of plants in their environment.
• Mammals & Animals: Many mammals and other animals depend on the plants pollinated by carpenter bees as a source of food, shelter, or both.
• Community: Overall, the presence of tiger bee fly indirectly contributes to the health of entire ecosystems, ensuring the balance between different plant and animal populations.

Though their parasitic relationship with carpenter bees may seem destructive, tiger bee flies play a vital role in their ecosystem.

Reflecting on the tiger bee fly, consider your role within your community and the interconnectedness of all beings in our wondrous world.

Tiger Bee Fly: Understanding the Physical Characteristics

When observing the tiger bee fly, you’ll immediately notice its distinctive physical appearance. One of its primary features is the long proboscis, which serves as its feeding tube.

This fascinating insect also has dark wings decorated with unique white patterns that resemble tiger stripes.

Their captivating flight pattern is another characteristic that sets them apart. As they hover around wooden surfaces, you can witness their fascinating display of agility and precision.

They tend to be attracted to wooden fences, roof overhangs, and other carpenter bee infested areas in search of nesting opportunities.

Regarding their physical characteristics, let’s list some features to better understand the tiger bee fly:

• Long proboscis for feeding
• Dark wings with distinctive white patterns
• Hovering flight pattern primarily around wooden surfaces

As a friendly reminder, always appreciate the beauty of these creatures while respecting their natural habitat.

Now that you’re more familiar with the tiger bee fly’s physical characteristics, you can carry this knowledge with you and share it with fellow nature enthusiasts.

Beauty and Enlightenment through Tiger Bee Fly

The Tiger Bee Fly is a beautiful insect with a strong work ethic, making it an excellent symbol for both beauty and enlightenment in your spiritual journey.

As you contemplate the essence of this creature, you might discover virtues and qualities that resonate with your own experiences.

For example, tiger bee flies demonstrate perseverance and hard work by parasitizing the larvae of carpenter bees ¹.

Similarly, focusing on your work ethic can lead to self-improvement and personal growth. Embracing the virtues of hard work and dedication can pave the way towards enlightenment.

The striking wing markings and distinctive appearance of the Tiger Bee Fly remind us of the importance of beauty in our lives.

Just as the eye-catching patterns on their wings ¹ inspire awe, embracing the beauty in the world around us can help us cultivate a deeper appreciation for life.

Some key characteristics of Tiger Bee Fly that may serve as inspiration are:

• Dedication to their purpose
• Striking beauty with distinctive markings
• Persistent and strong work ethic

By focusing on these qualities, you can begin to integrate the spirit of the Tiger Bee Fly into your own life, ultimately fostering both beauty and enlightenment.

Deep Learning from Tiger Bee Fly

When you come across a tiger bee fly, take it as a message to stay focused on your goals. This fascinating creature teaches us valuable lessons, just like the ancient civilizations embraced animal symbolism for guidance.

The tiger bee fly’s striking appearance inspires wisdom. Its bold markings represent the importance of discovering our true selves. For instance:

• Uncover your hidden strengths
• Recognize your flaws and areas for growth
• Embrace lessons from past experiences

Another vital lesson from the tiger bee fly is flexibility. Their adaptability enables them to thrive in various environments. Similarly, you should:

• Be open to change and willing to adapt
• Navigate challenges with grace and courage
• Remain receptive to new ideas and perspectives

As you encounter the tiger bee fly, allow their spiritual significance to enrich and guide your life with focus, wisdom, and flexibility.

Cultural Beliefs and Traditions across the Globe

When exploring the spiritual meaning of the tiger bee fly, it’s essential to consider different cultural beliefs and traditions from around the world.

For example, in many Native American traditions, animal symbols often represented essential aspects of life, such as strength, endurance, or adaptability. In this context, you might see the tiger bee fly as an emblem of agility and determination.

In some African cultures, insects are associated with ancestral spirits and serve as guides for the living. Though not explicitly connected to the tiger bee fly, this belief illustrates a tendency to view animals as spiritual messengers.

Here are a few common themes found in spiritual interpretations of animals:

• Animal totems representing individual or collective characteristics
• Symbolic meanings derived from the animal’s characteristics or behavior
• Associations with deities, spiritual beings, or natural forces

Comparing Native American traditions with African symbolism, you could observe similarities in the way animals acquire spiritual significance. The key here is to appreciate the cultural context when interpreting the tiger bee fly’s meaning.

In summary:

• Delve into different cultural beliefs and traditions to understand the spiritual significance of the tiger bee fly
• Native American and African cultures can provide valuable insights
• Pay attention to cultural context and common themes, such as animal totems, symbolic meanings, and spiritual associations

Significance of Tiger Bee Fly in Seasonal Changes

As you observe nature throughout the seasons, you might notice the presence and adaptability of the tiger bee fly in various environments.

This unique creature can teach you valuable lessons about adaptability and the interconnectedness of all organisms in an ecosystem.

In early spring, you might spot tiger bee flies hovering around wooden surfaces, such as fences or roof overhangs. Their distinctive wing markings capture your attention as they search for carpenter bee nests.

These creatures demonstrate a strong sense of adaptability by finding ways to coexist with other species like the carpenter bees.

As the seasons change and new flowers bloom, tiger bee flies continue to be active in their surroundings. They adjust to the shifting availability of resources and remind you of the importance of embracing change.

While observing tiger bee flies, you can appreciate their role in maintaining balance within their ecosystem.

By parasitizing carpenter bee larvae, they contribute to keeping populations within sustainable levels, demonstrating how each species has its place in maintaining the natural order.

As you reflect on the tiger bee fly’s seasonal adaptations, consider incorporating these lessons into your own life. Embrace changes in your environment, explore new opportunities, and respect the interconnectedness of all living beings.

Summary and Conclusion

In this brief exploration of the tiger bee fly’s spiritual meaning, we can observe a unique blend of symbolism from both the tiger and the bee. Let’s delve into this fascinating creature’s symbolism by examining the key aspects of each.

Tiger Symbolism:

• Bravery
• Courage
• Strength
• Independence
• Solitary nature

Bee Symbolism:

• Hard work
• Dedication
• Teamwork
• Resourcefulness
• Communication

As you can see, the tiger bee fly’s spiritual symbolism combines these two realms, offering an intriguing perspective on nature’s balance between cooperation and self-reliance.

This creature also reminds us to be curious and never stop exploring our world, just as bees are always searching for nectar and tigers are always hunting for prey.

In African cultures, the symbolism of the tiger is often linked to protection, leadership, and wisdom. This ties in with the bee’s symbolism, as these insects are known for their devotion to the protection and success of their hive.

Here’s a comparison table to help you understand the unique blend of traits found in the tiger bee fly:

Tiger	Bee	Tiger Bee Fly
Bravery	Hard work	Both
Curiosity	Resourcefulness	Both
Leadership	Communication	Both

In conclusion, the tiger bee fly’s spiritual symbolism reminds us of the importance of embracing both our independent nature and the power of teamwork. Use these insights to inspire personal growth, foster connections with others, and appreciate the intricate balance found in the natural world.

Footnotes

1. https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/tiger-bee-fly ↩ ↩²

Reader Emails

Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about tiger bee flies. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.

Letter 1 – Bee Fly, but which one???

Grey fuzzy fly or bee
July 13, 2009
Saw this fella in the Okanagan, B.C. It didn’t seem to make any noise and wasn’t worried about me at all. I’ve never seen anything like it, I’m very curious if you can id it for me.
Donna Dean
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Dear Donna,
This is a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae, Subfamily Bombyliinae and Tribe Bombyliini, but we are uncertain of the genus or species.  BugGuide has several possibilities.  There is a photo posted of Bolbylius incanus from Maryland that looks similar.  There is a photo of a mating pair from Washington that looks similar, and there are three photos of Anastoechus barbatus from Wisconsin that look very similar.  If you are satisfied with just general identification, we can tell you that Bee Flies feed on nectar as adults, and as larvae they feed in immature beetles, bees, wasps, butterflies, moths or the eggs of grasshoppers depending upon the species, according to BugGuide.

Letter 2 – Tiger Bee Fly

What’s this insect?
June 23, 2010
Hi, This guy was near my pond this morning. I live in Montgomery, AL.
There were 2, and they can hover, but he doesn’t look like a hover fly.
He is probably about an inch in length.
Thank you.
Mary
Montgomery, Alabama

Hi Mary,
The Tiger Bee Fly, Xenox tigrinus, like the one in your photo is an impressive insect.  According to BugGuide, the food of the adult is unknown, but “An adult has been observed on damp mud, lapping up fluids” which could explain why it was near your pond.  BugGuide also indicates:  “Larva is a parasite of Carpenter Bees Xylocopa.“

Thanks.  I thought they were pretty cool.  We have some Carpenter bees that my husband wants to dispose of, but I won’t let him. Maybe these will do it for him.
I am going to teach Life Science and Biology next fall and will have my students do a photographic insect collection. I was practicing when these two Tiger bee flies came up.
What fun. I am going to try to do the identifying myself from now on. I bought a guide.
THANKS again for the quick response.
Mary

Letter 3 – Bee Fly

What is this ?
Hello,
I saw this bug in our garden today. I am in the UK and have never seen anything like it before. It was moving like a humming bird, but does not look like any of the pictures of a hummingbird moth I could find anywhere else.
Thanks
John

Hi John,
After reading your letter, we were pleasantly surprised that upon opening the image, it was not a Hummingbird Moth, but a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae.

Letter 4 – Bee Fly from Brazil

Pollinator fly
Hello!
I found your site while trying to ID a pollinator fly I observed at 2100m on the Serra dos Orgaos mountains in Rio de Janeiro state, SE Brazil. Here’s a picture, I’m hoping you can help.
Thanks,
Fernando Rivadavia

Hi Fernando,
This is a Bee Fly in the Family Bombyliidae. We can’t give you an exact species. Bee Flies are furry stout bodied flies that resemble Bumble Bees. Many species have very elongated beaklike mouthparts which your underside view shows nicely. They feed on flower nectar by hovering motionless and drinking from that elongated beak.

Letter 5 – Tiger Bee Fly

Thanks for helping me identify this xenox tigrinis!

Hi Bugman,
I just found your site while trying (and succeeding, thanks!)
to identify this big fly. Here’s a shot of xenox tigrinis
hanging out on a tropical plant on my balcony in London, Ontario,
Canada. I was terrified of it while taking pictures because
its wings resemble those of flies that bite (deer or horse
flies I guess) at my cottage. But it was definitely not scared
of me. Anyways, thanks for helping me identify it!
Mike

Hi Mike,
Congratulations on the correct identification of your Tiger
Bee Fly, Xenox tigrinis. We checked our archives, and realized
that the last Tiger Bee Fly we posted was actually misidentified.
Since it was from California, it was more likely Xenox habrosus.

Letter 6 – Tiger Bee Fly

July 24, 2009
Very Large fly (with photo this time)                         Inbox        X
I have been unsuccessful for several days to submit this query through the web site.  It says that my file won’t upload so I decided to try submitting directly to your e-mail address that I got when you answered one of my other submissions.
This is a very large fly that I found resting on the chains of my disc golf target here at my home in Charlotte, NC.  We have a large wooded area with several creeks behind our house with lots of deer.  I looked through the flies section on WTB as well as BugGuide and had no luck.  I used the macro function on my new camera to great success.
Brian R. Lucas
Charlotte, NC
p.s. I got so excited to submit that I forgot to attach the photo!

Hi Brian,
Thanks for writing back with the image.  This is a Tiger Bee Fly, Xenox tigrinus.  According to BugGuide:  “Larva is a parasite of Carpenter Bees Xylocopa.”

Letter 7 – Tiger Bee Fly

tiger bee fly
July 6, 2010
Hi I came on here tonight just to browse and i remembered i have a pic of a odd looking fly that landed on my sweater last summer in early september. Everyone kept telling me it was some sort of horse fly or deer fly. i didnt think so. it seemed as though he/she just needed a wee rest and just sat there. I ran in the house got a camera and he/she did a bunch of posing for me and then flew away. I uploaded it to the pc and swiftly forgot about it till now. Looking on here i found out that it is a beautiful tiger bee fly. thank you for such a wonderful site my children and i come here often!
P.S. I hope you dont mind another photo of one
another mystery solved
sarnia, ontario

Thanks for sending us your photo of a Tiger Bee Fly, Xenox tigrinus.  We like hearing from people who use our site and other insect identification websites like BugGuide to correctly identify the mysteries that are perplexing them.

Letter 8 – Tiger Bee Fly killed unnecessarily

Ed. Note:  August 9, 2011
We just posted a photo of a Progressive Bee Fly and we realized that though we have received numerous requests this year, we have not posted any new photos of Tiger Bee Flies, Xenox tigrinus.  For various reasons, including poor image quality, or not enough time, those requests just got brief responses.  We went through our old emails to try to locate a more recent image of a Tiger Bee Fly, and we found this example of Unnecessary Carnage.  We hope our brief response has made Brian realize that he should allow these harmless pollinating insects to share his yard.  According to BugGuide:  “Larva is a parasitoid of Carpenter Bees, Xylocopa.”

Unknown bug
Location: New Jersey
July 20, 2011 10:01 am
What kind of bug is this please help I have tons of them in my backyard. It’s summertime
Signature: Brian McGinness

Harmless Tiger Bee Fly.

Letter 9 – Tiger Bee Fly

Tiger fly photo
Location: Auburn, NJ
August 9, 2011 9:16 am
Hi Bugman, Not needing an ID, but I don’t see a way to send photos otherwise. Just saw the posting you made on tiger fly, and so sending a photo I took last month. It was hanging off the back porch. You noted in a related post, their larvae are parasitic to carpenter bees. Which makes perfect sense, since we have lots of those here, though I try to keep them from eating the porch rocker. Just spray a little repellent on the bottom side of wooden furniture, and it seems to deter them, at least awhile…but doesn’t kill anything.
I’ve learned a lot watching your posts. Thanks again.
Signature: Creek Keeper

Dear Creek Keeper,
It was incredibly thoughtful for you to send in this lovely image of a living Tiger Bee Fly.  It is much nicer than the dead image we just posted or the other blurry image we found in the email pile.  We know we also received at least two images of mating Tiger Bee Flies this summer and we can only presume that the image quality was not good enough to warrant posting.  We received so many Tiger Bee Fly identification requests this summer, so it is nice to have a good example for our readers to refer to.

Letter 10 – Bee Fly from Australia

WTB
Location: Termeil NSW 2539
February 5, 2012 5:15 am
Hi again…this fly ?..has been hanging around,looking at me,pointed at me,shows great interest,will let me get 4ft away..hovers then darts off,comes back hovers,from 2 to 6ft off the ground,pointing toward me..,I think it lives near where I chop firewood under a large Blue Gum..seen it there twice,might get a video tomorrow.Sun shining today.Thanks.
Signature: Bugger

Dear Bugger,
This is a True Bee Fly in the subfamily Bombyliinae and we found a matching image of a resting individual on the Brisbane Insect website, though it is not identified by species.  The proboscis on your specimen is definitely a match to the mouth on the image we located.

Letter 11 – Bee Fly: Bombylius pygmaeus

Subject: What kind of bug is this?
Location: Miramichi, NB, Canada
May 15, 2013 4:57 pm
Dear Bugman,
I found it in my yard in Miramichi, NB, Canada. What kind of bug is this?
Signature: Corey

Hi Corey,
This is a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae, and we quickly identified it on BugGuide as Bombylius pygmaeus.

Letter 12 – Bee Fly: Exoprosopa species

Subject: Fly identification
Location: Colorado
March 21, 2014 6:51 pm
Hi,
I have a couple of flies that I haven’t been able to identify.
The first I thought would be easy, however, I’m coming up empty! I’ve Googled lots of phrases, and gone through the photos on here (I think I hit them all), but didn’t see any matches. This one was in late June of 2010 in the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO.
…
Thank you so much for your help! (Also, your book is fabulous!)
Signature: Amy

Hi Amy,
Your first image is of a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae, and this image of Exoprosopa caliptera that we found on BugGuide is a very close match.  Exoprosopa dorcadion, also pictured on BugGuide, is another possibility, so we are confident with the genus, but we would have to defer to someone with more experience to definitively identify the species.

Letter 13 – Bee Fly from Canada

Subject: Flying bug
Location: Flinton Ontario Canada
August 12, 2016 12:01 pm
Just want to know what this is and to learn more about it. Thank Kat
Signature: Kat

Dear Kat,
We are pretty sure we have identified your Bee Fly as Lepidophora lutea on BugGuide because it has a more northerly range than the very similar looking Scaly Bee Fly, Lepidophora lepidocera, which is also pictured on BugGuide and looks quite similar.

Fantastic. Thanks so much for identifying the Bee Fly. How very interesting.

Letter 14 – Tiger Bee Fly on Security Camera

Subject: Camera Hog
Location: Maryland
July 11, 2017 4:49 pm
Something landed on security camera and covered up the lens. I sure jumped and then realized it was a bug.. I tried to get a clear picture, but the security camera is black and so is the bug. When my husband pushed it with his finger, it flew off fast and was gone before we could get a good look. Best photos I could get are attached.
Signature: Mary

Dear Mary,
We wish you had sent an image of what the security camera “saw” that made you jump.  There is still enough detail in your image to tell that this is a harmless Tiger Bee Fly.  According to BugGuide:  “wing pattern distinctive.”

Letter 15 – Bee Fly from Belgium

Subjec:  Black fly with beautiful wings
Geographic location of the bug:  Brussels, Belgium
Date: 05/27/2019
Time: 01:35 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  It was the first time seeing this fly today.  The weather was a mild May Day. It’s wings were what caught my attention
How you want your letter signed:  Eigo Creativity

Dear Eigo Creativity,
This is a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae and it looks very similar to our North American Tiger Bee Fly.  We believe your species is Anthrax anthrax which is pictured on Dave’s Garden.

Letter 16 – Tiger Bee Fly

Subject:  Tiger Bee Fly
Geographic location of the bug:  Campbell, Ohio
Date: 08/02/2021
Time: 11:31 PM EDT
Gentle Readers,
When Daniel first arrived in Ohio two weeks ago and he began working in the garden, he encountered a massive Tiger Bee Fly in the garage buzzing around the window.  Daniel tried to rescue it because of the large web building spider (OK he will figure out what they are before he leaved Ohio in two more weeks)  with the sheet web that will run out from its lair if anything falls into its dusty web.  Daniel eventually caught the Tiger Bee Fly in his hands and released it.  When he saw one later in the day, he liked fantasizing that it was the same individual he rescued. 

The Tiger Bee Fly likes sunning on the south facing bricks and this morning it allowed Daniel to get really close to just watch it as it basked in the sun on the wreath on the front door.

Letter 17 – Tiger Bee Fly

Subject:  Large Black “Fly”
Geographic location of the bug:  Sanford, North Carolina
Date: 07/11/2022
Time: 01:49 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This large, black, flying insect started hanging around our deck in June. Never comes near people or food. Have observed it staying in one spot – always in the sun – for to 20 minutes. We are new to life in the Carolinas and have never seen this insect before. Thank you for your help!
How you want your letter signed:  Susan Elizabeth

Dear Susan Elizabeth,
This magnificent creature is a Tiger Bee Fly, Xenox tigrinus, a species that does not provide for its young, but rather, it parasitizes the nest of Eastern Carpenter Bees.  The larval Bee Flies will feed on the larvae of the Carpenter Bees as well as the food provisioned by the female Carpenter Bee for her brood.  Eric Eaton once wrote to us that “if it has a mouth, it can bite” but Tiger Bee Flies are not aggressive toward people and we know of no documented accounts of a person being bitten by one.