Progressive Bee Fly

Description:

Bee flies are flies that resemble bees and are usually found resting on flowers or open ground. All members of the Diptera (flies) order - including bee flies - have a single pair of membranous wings, with the hindwings reduced to tiny structures called halteres. Exoprosopa fasciata is one of the more common species of this genus in the eastern United States. Progressive bee flies have brown wings and large brown compound eyes. The thorax is black and reddish-brown. The abdomen is black with yellow bands. The species name - fasciata - means banded.

Habitat:

This one was photographed at the edge of a pine plantation at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center near Jackson (Aiken County), SC.

Notes:

Their larvae are parasitic on June beetles (genus Phyllophaga).