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Project Noah Nature School
Exoprosopa fasciata
spotted among ground cover plants in front yard
Spotted on Sep 12, 2012
Submitted on Sep 16, 2012
8 Comments
Again many thanks. This is the best community! Beautiful surroundings, wonderful people, the best "schools"--I'd move here.
I think that Bombyliidae tend to be a bit larger than Syrphidae in general (though there are a few that are larger Syrphids). The body shape is different. A good number of the Bee Flies have pattern or coloration on their wings. Some, but fewer Syrphidae, have color but most have transparent wings. You can see here with a similarly colored (and somewhat fuzzier) Syrphid:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/180290/bgp...
And another example of your fly's species:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/452128
And compare to your photos as well. Especially look at the head and thorax area. That seems to be where the biggest differences are. A good portion of the Bee Flies have this longer "neck".
Just my own observations.
It can be tough!
Yes it does; I'll keep that in mind.
Bug Guide says that "Syrphidae (Hover Flies) are not as hairy and never have a long proboscis." I hope this helps.
Yep, that's what it is alright. Thanks for the help. Now does anyone have a trick to telling which is which? I'm forever getting them mixed up.
Nice one! I agree with ForestDragon, Exoprosopa fasciata.
I think this is actually a species of Bee Fly (Family Bombyliidae). Check out Exoprosopa fasciata :http://bugguide.net/node/view/12550
I'd say hoverfly, though I've never seen such coloration.