A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Protodejeania sp.
The tachinid fly is identified by the hairs on its usually colorful abdomen. It seems to enjoy the drink I took with me on a hike -- some good old Green Machine Naked juice. :) There were quite a few that I saw on that day (the last picture shows another one, covered with what looks like pollen), and all were about 3 centimeters in length. Hard to find any information on them, but this article was useful (http://greennature.com/gallery/flying-in...) ; it describes how the insect uses parasitism which is actually beneficial as they naturally destroy pests such as gypsy moth infestations in a forest.
They're usually on the hunt for many sorts of flowers, with this one being an exception. They were found along the Old Baldy trail that takes you to Mt. Wrightson, a high peak that is reached through Madera Canyon, all in the state of Arizona. The elevation was about 8,000 feet from the ground. From an article, I am informed that they are native to Mexico and the US, specifically California and Arizona.
In the second image, it appears to be reading the text before drinking the juice that's collected on the outside of the bottle. Picky fly!
SmallWonders, you are absolutely right! They help keep infestations in check and look great, all while being a fly. :)
ceherzog, thank you! :)
Happy to help :) I love new encounters with Tachinid sp. - These are great flies to have around for controlling other insects & they're really cool to look at ;)
I can't thank you enough SmallWonders, I've been wondering what in the world such a strange fly like this one could be! Thanks for the ID. :)
Tachinids are beneficial parasitic flies - Many of their hosts are destructive timber and agricultural pests.