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Laphria index/ithypyga
I believe this may be a type of Robber Fly
Where woodlands butt up to a mowed grass trail, wildflowers, reeds and a creek
Fairly non-aggressive towards humans unless you pester them too much, as I apparently did with this one. I got the picture but got buzzed in the face for having done so. No subsequent sting or bite however, so maybe just a gentle warning to back off?
BugEric-Thank you so much for your help identifying or suggesting an identification for this bee-like robber fly! It says 62 species exists in "our area". Does that mean throughout the US? Any idea how many we might find just in the upper mid-west or MN area? And, would that number include ALL robber flies or just the bee-like robber flies? Just curious. What I used to think were flies or bees have turned out to be robber flies more often than not, especially when I see them killing or eating another insect. Does that make them carnivores? Do bees or flies, other than robber flies, ever do this?