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Tachinid
Fly Pupae
(12/26/2007) strange larvae
We just got home from a ten day vacation. We have been keeping
a cocoon that we found a few weeks ago so the kids can watch
it develop. When we got home there are these black small larvae
of some kind in the jar. Do you know what they are? How did
they get in there? We have very small holes in the jar and
it is in our house. Thanks if you can help us
We believe these are Tachinid
Fly Pupae. Tachinid Fly larvae are internal parasites
on many kinds of insects and arthropods, and they are often
species specific. Caterpillars are a favorite host. We are
presuming the female fly laid her eggs inside the caterpillar
before it formed a cocoon and the young flies fed on the internal
organs.
Stilt Legged Fly
(12/01/2007) white "mittened" fly (?)
Hi Lisa Anne and Daniel,
This entire summer, I've been slightly obsessed w/ your web
site. Every day I look with awe and envy at the amazing
insects people send photos of. In my tiny Brooklyn, NY garden
- my little urban oasis - I wondered what potential existed.
So, I began to LOOK. Oh yes... even here in NYC there live
a pretty interesting array of bugs! Once I really started
paying attention, I discovered preying mantids, & katydids,
cool caterpillars & spiders, stink bugs, bees of many types,
tons of cicadas this year... even cicada killers. I've identified
my "finds" on your incredible site, but this one
has me stumped. I've narrowed it down to a fly of some
kind (I think). I've searched the web but haven't found one
with those little white "mittens" on its front legs....can
you help? I thank you and all the folks who contribute bug
pics for MANY hours of enjoyment and education and most importantly...inspiration
to see what lurks beyond the obvious.
Patrice
Hi again Patrice,
We received three back to back emails from you and all have
different dates. This one was dated September 4, 2006. Have
they been lost in cyperspace for over a year? We believe this
is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae. Though
BugGuide
doesn't have any that have the exact markings of your specimen,
several are similar.
Correction: (12/03/2007)
Hi, Daniel: The "long-legged fly, perhaps..." is actually
a stilt-legged fly in the family Micropezidae. They are good
mimics of wasps or ants (depending on the species), even waving
their front legs to look like long antennae!
Eric
Louse Fly, AKA Ked
(11/22/2007) What's this bug?
I found this crawling on my goats and wondering what it is.
I am in Vermont. Thanks
Chas
 
Ed. Note: After a very embarassing misidentification
that we thankfully did not post, Chas sent us the following
response. While researching, we found his images posted to
BugGuide
with a dialog series of responses debating Sheep Ked, Melophagus
ovinus, versus Deer Ked, Lipoptena cervi.
Daniel,
Thanks for your help. ... One of the other suggestions I have
had is a Ked in the Family Hippoboscidae, Lipoptena cervi
or Melophagus ovinus. If it is one of these keds, it's important
for me to find out wich one to decide if it is a real problem
to my goats.... No apologies necessary. I really appreciate
you lending your knowledge and experience on the topic. So
you agree with the deer ked ID? I am trying to figure out
if they are something to worry about. From what I understand
the deer ked can only reproduce on deer, but not other mammals.
I do wonder if my goats are close enough to deer to be a suitable
host, though. There is also a similar bug, the sheep ked,
that might be more of a problem for my goats. But I checked
the goats closely today and I didn't find any more keds and
no sign of sheep ked (pupa or the blood waste from adults),
so I think we are probably all right. Thanks for your help.
Chas
Hi Again Chas,
We don't possess the necessary skill to identify this Louse
Fly to the species level. Louse Flies are true flies that
resemble ticks. We do have some information from Hogue's book,
Insects of the Los Angeles Basis, that in a general way, might
be helpful. There are many species of Louse Flies, and some
are even parasitic on birds. They are ectoparasites, and feed
on blood. Here is some of Hogue's information: "Upon emerging
from the pupa, this fly - which possesses wings that are fully
developed although fragile - flies among the trees or shrubs
in search of the host (it can survive at this stage for only
a few days in the absence of the normal host). Upon successfully
finding a deer, it immediately crawls through the hair to
the skin and begins to suck blood. Here it remains as a permanent
parasite, soon losing its wings through wear. ... All Louse
Flies are blood suckers, although none feeds regularly on
humans. They may transmit disease between wild animals but
not to and between people. Development of these flies is of
a special type: the larva is not free-living but matures within
the body of the female parent. When the puparium is formed,
the female deposits it on the host whence it soon falls off
onto the ground." So, chances are very good that whatever
the species, your Louse Fly will not become an infestation.
Variegated Fritillary, Buckeye, and Drone Flies
(11/17/2007) flies, bee mimics, and butterflies
This was taken in my garden a week or so ago in Nottingham,
Pa. It gets southern exposure, so it was pretty warm in the
sun. This yellow mum, which smelled so good, attracted LOTS
of attention. it was covered in some sort of bee mimic flies,
many butterflies, small black flies, house flies, and little
flies that looked like sweat bees. None of the different species
seemed to care about the others, except to compete for what
little nectar was there. I hope you can identify some of these
for me. thanks,
Lee Weber
Hi Again Lee,
The butterflies are relatively easy. First, we rotated your
image, so you should see the site. At the top is a Variegated
Fritillary, Euptoieta claudia. At the bottom is a Common
Buckeye, Junonia coenia. Also at the bottom with close
wings is what appears to be a Common
Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapae. The large bee mimics
are Drone
Flies, Eristalis tenax. Thanks so much for sending such
a rich and wonderful image.
Deer Fly
(11/06/2007) Fly?
Hey,
I am from Atlantic Canada and this summer I went camping with
a friend and this little fly wouldn't leave me alone. It
wasn't interested in my blood because the few times it landed
on me it just stayed there and didn't move. I was able
to get tis picture of it and noticed the odd coloration in
its eyes. You have any ideas?
Janita Sullivan
Hi Janita,
Your photo is so pretty. We don't recognize the species of
fly. We haven't pestered Eric Eaton for an identification
in a bit, so we will contact him. Here is Eric's response:
"Hi, Daniel: Neat images! The fly is one of the deer flies
in the genus Chrysops (family Tabanidae, which includes the
horse flies). Personally, I think the psychedelic eyes are
a way of mezmerizing their victims (they slice and dice, then
lap up the blood that flows from the wound). Deer flies tend
to go for the head of human victims, so simply wearing a hat
will help discourage them. Keep up the great work! Eric"
Flesh Fly gives viviparous birth to Maggots while
in the death throes of an Ambush Bug!!!
(09/22/2007) ambush bug with flesh fly
Hello,
I've spent quite a bit of time on your site in recent months,
trying to identify arthropods of all kinds. One I've found
especially fascinating is the ambush bug--what a formidable
hunter!! Several days ago, I was astonished to find one with
a Silver-spotted Skipper, quite a large catch for such a small
bug. Today, spotted one with a flesh fly. My goal was a good
photo of the ambush bug, not the flesh fly; unfortunately,
the near constant breezes of the last week are not conducive
to ultra-sharp pictures. I almost deleted the picture, but
then something caught my attention. The fly, in her death
throes, had given birth. Just yesterday, in thumbing through
my new Kaufman's "Field Guide to Insects of N.A., read
that some flies, including flesh flies, are viviparous. If
you like, you may post the attached picture. Thanks for all
you do. Between your site, BugGuide & my new Kaufman's,
I'm happily IDing most of my arthropod photographs. Sincerely,
Linda
Hi Linda,
Your photograph is quite wonderful, even though your primary
objective is not as visible as you might hope. Try to remember
that the excellent camouflage of the Ambush Bug is key to
its success as a predator. We will be archiving your image
on numerous pages, including flies, maggots, true bugs and
food chain.
Hunchback
Bee Fly
(09/21/2007) Interesting fly...?
Hello!
I came across this interesting insect in the Big Hammock Natural
Area along the Altamaha River in Georgia. These shots
were taken mid September along the river. I thought
it may have been some sort of fly, but the antennae and abdomen
seemed curious to me. I can only see one set of
wings in the photo and it flew too fast for me to tell if
it had more than a pair. I believe the plant in the
photo is Rabbit Tobacco (Pseudognaphlium obtusifolium).
This plant was almost completely covered by lovebugs.
I've never come across something like this, any idea?
Anthony
Hi Anthony,
This is a Hunchback Bee Fly which we identified on BugGuide.
We suspect the species is Lepidophora lutea because of the
yellow scales on the forth segment of the abdomen. The larvae
are parasites on solitary wasps.
Cactus Fly, not a Marsh Fly
(09/21/2007) Summer visitor to chapparal country in Southern
California
First of all, I love your website. The variety of life on
this planet is more fantastic than any other I've visited
(at least in recent memory)! My wife and I have long wondered
about a winged insect that shows up each year as the weather
warms. It seems to like red wine; whenever we go in the backyard
with a glass they seem to end up treating our glasses as their
personal spa. Since it's quite dark and looks a bit like the
villains in the 'Babylon 5' TV series, we call them 'Shadow
Bugs'. They don't seem harmful; at least they haven't bitten
us yet! We live on the edge of a rocky hill covered in chapparal
(cactus, sage, and other desert shrubs). My wife grew up very
near here, but in a more urban area and never saw one until
we moved to our current house. I would estimate that this
critter is between 3/4 of an inch and 1 inch long. In hopes
that you can tell us what they are I'm enclosing two pictures.
Thanks!
jeff fielding
orange, california
Hi Jeff,
After doing some research, we believe this to be a Marsh Fly
in the genus Sepedon. We located some images on BugGuide
that look very similar. Perhaps some expert will write in
with an exact species.
Correction: Cactus Fly
Provided by Eric Eaton (09/23/2007)
Daniel:
The "marsh fly" is actually a "cactus fly" in the family Neriidae.
Fantastic image! We could use it over at Bugguide, as this
family is under-represented. Larvae of these insects develop
in rotting cacti.
Eric
Correction
(09/23/2007) Maybe a Marsh Fly - not a marsh fly
Hi guys,
I enjoy the site. Your “Maybe a Marsh Fly” from 9/21/2007
is actually a Cactus Fly - Odontoloxozus longicornis. The
larvae hang out in decaying cactus. Interesting that the adults
like red wine, I’ll forced to experiment with that. Darn.
Cheers,
Michael W.
Soldier Fly Perhaps
(09/19/2007) Unknown Green Fly
This picture taken 2007-09-19 in Kenner (near New Orleans),
Louisiana. I have used you site and information but I have
been unable to identify this fly. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.
Ron M
 
Hi Ron,
Your fly resembles a species of Soldier Fly pictured on BugGuide,
Hedriodiscus binotatus. We are guessing that it is either
the same species or something closely related. We hope to
get confirmation from Eric Eaton.
Correction
(09/23/2007)
Dear Daniel,
the green fly is more likely Odontomyia cincta. http://bugguide.net/node/view/53711
But the whole group of Odontomyia, etc is very difficult and
there are many open questions and a revision of these beautiful
flies is needed. It might be strange for you that I can ID
an unusual Australian fly, but that I have problems with a
common US species... but there has been not enough good work
here and amongst specialist, we think that only 30% of all
US Diptera are described... So a lot to do in future... You
have a great website and I would love to help you ou with
identifications in future! Best wishes,
Martin
Bathroom Fly
(09/09/2007) What's This Bug?
Bugman:
I live in the San Joaquin Valley in California, and these
"flies" are mainly outside and in the garage, although
they do not hesitate to enter the house if the opportunity
arises. They seem to be sitting around more than they actually
fly. When disturbed (like trying to take their picture) they
fly a short distance and begin sitting again. I would appreciate
your input. Thank you
George
Hi George,
This is a Bathroom Fly, so called since they are often found
in bathrooms. The eggs are laid in pipes and the larval flies
exist in the sludge caught in drainage pipes. A sewer in your
garage would explain their presence.
Rodent
Bot Fly Maggot (and it's edible)
(08/15/2007) Squirrel insect
These grubs or insects showed up in my cabin along with a
dead squirrel the cat brought in. Could be that its a coincidence
or perhaps the cat brought them as an additional gift. The
insects were not on the squirrel. Can you help me identify
these so I can decide weather they a friend or foe.
Rick in Western Colorado
 
Hi Rick
Here is one sure to gross out our readership. These are Rodent
Bot Fly Maggots, Cuterebra species. The Rodent Bot Fly is
a mammalian endoparasite. According to a website
we located: "The female flies will lay their eggs along rabbit
trails and near rodent burrows. The first stage larvae will
hatch and quickly attach to hair when a host brushes against
the egg. The larvae then burrow into the skin and leave a
breathing hole. " Also on the website is the information:
"Cuterebra is a normal bot fly of rodents and rabbits, but
can also infect cats, dogs, and man. The adult fly looks like
a bumblebee and is rarely seen. It may appear a shiny blue
or black color. The third stage larva is dark brown to black
with stout black spines. " Your close-up photo shows the mouth
hooks of the maggot, substantiated by this image on BugGuide.
Bot Flies are also known as Warble Flies due to the lumps
visible on the skin of the hapless host. There is also a Human
Bot Fly, Dermatobia hominis, that is found in Central America.
Wolves on Rabbits
(08/15/2007)
Daniel...
After just reading your description of the bot fly larvae,
I'm wondering...at certain times of the year (usually late
summer, early fall) when my father would go rabbit hunting,
(we actually depended on them for food in the '50's), they
would sometimes get rabbits with what they then called 'wolves'
in their necks and we were not allowed to use them for a food
source. Could it be that I've learned after all these years that
these were actually bot fly larvae? I large lump would most
times be visible. Does this actually damage the meat for
human consumption? Thanks for taking the time to read my
query and if you have time to answer, that would be great,
but if you don't, I understand.... Sincerely,
Pat, Hawk Point
Hi Pat,
It sounds like your rabbits with wolves were parasitized by
a Bot Fly. The meat near the wolf or warble might be unsavory,
but cooking the meat would definitely kill the parasite.
Joanne Gets Sick!!!(08/15/2007) The Rodent
Bot Fly
Will you pay for cleaning my nice leather recliner cuz I just
barfed on it.
Joanne
Close Encounter with a Human Bot Fly!!!
(08/15/2007) Human Bot Fly experience
Hello fellow bug-nuts,
Your recent posting of the rodent bot fly larvae brought back
some interesting memories. I brought an unexpected souvenir
home from a trip to Costa Rica in '00. You guessed it. Luckily,
I'd read about these critters. Made me the hit of my local
doctor's office. I actually printed a page from a Canadian
website and brought it along in to prove I knew what I was
talking about. It is a very weird sensation to feel these
beasts move when they're in your flesh (mine was in the flab
of my upper left arm). You can actually feel the bristles
they anchor themselves with as they twist about. The research
I did told me the adult female bots actually wrestle a mosquito
down and lay an egg on the mosquito's abdomen. Then the mosquito
bites a host, the egg on her belly hatches (very quickly,
apparently), and the newborn enters the mosquito's bite site.
My research also gave me the bot's larval timeline, so I
knew how long I had, and how insistent to be at the doctor's
office. Love your site! I check it every day.
Don J. Dinndorf
St. Augusta, MN
Bot Fly Larvae are Edible
edibility update on bot fly
Hi Daniel,
Just to keep the gross-out fest going, and to answer Pat's
question: I'm pretty sure that NO, the presence of bot fly
larvae would not render the host animal inedible. There's
a good deal of documentation [as recent as 1918] of Inuit
hunters taking down caribou that were infested with large
fly larvae, and then making a point of cooking and eating
the larvae first. Not sure if I could do it, especially considering
the textural issue of those rough, stubble-like projections
all over the larvae's sides, but the point is that if some
people enjoyed eating the actual flesh-consuming maggots,
then eating the rest of the animal would not be a big deal.
Reluctance to do so is pure 'fussiness' on our part. Best,
Dave
www.slshrimp.com
Monarch
Caterpillar Metamorphosis and Tachinid Fly Parasites
(08/12/2007)
Monarch Bodysnatchers
Hello, Bugman,
I recently placed 2 large monarch caterpillars in an terrarium
with some milkweed, so I could watch them go through metamorphosis.
All was well... at first. One morning, I found one of
the caterpillars hanging from under a branch, as though ready
to pupate, but it was dead, shriveled, and and clear strands
hanging from it. There were two small, yellow maggots
in the tank, as well as a red pupa. After a bit of searching,
I found this site http://www.monarchlab.umn.edu
/research/PNE/creasey.aspx . Apparently, an introduced
tachinid fly, Lespesia archippivora, was brought over to control
cutworms, but attacks non-target species like monarchs as
well. Fortunately, the other caterpillar seems to have
dodged the bullet, and has formed a lovely chrysalis. Regards,
Emily
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| Monarch
Caterpillar |
Monarch
Chrysalis |
Hi
Emily,
Thank you for your wonderful letter, excellent photos, precise
documentation, and technical research. Though we approve of
biological control methods over pesticides, we always question
the introduction of biological agents before the total ramifications
of the actions are made apparent.
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| Parasitized
Monarch Caterpillar |
Tachinid
Fly larvae and pupa |
Mydas Fly
(08/05/2007) Do you know this wasp?
Hi,
This picture was taken at Wildwood Preserve Metropark in the
Oak Openings Region of Lucas County, Ohio (near Toledo) by
Metroparks Volunteer, Jackie Riley. Do you know what
it might be? Sincerely,
Kim High, Metroparks of the Toledo Area Naturalist
Hi Kim,
Confusing a Mydas Fly for a wasp is an understandable mistake
as Mydas Flies are wasp mimics. We believe this is Mydas
clavatus.
Mydas Fly
(07/26/2007) Cicada killer wasp or asilid fly
Good Morning
My wife and I took these pictures and others of what I think
is a cicada killer wasp but not sure because of solid color.
He/She has no spots but has the body of cicada killer wasp.
Would be interested if this is a cicada killer wasp. We had
a local opinion that this was a "asilid" fly mimicking
a cicada killer but I questioned that because of size and
no hairy patches. The size is approximately 5
centimeters head to tail and a wing span tip to tip 5.1 centimeters. We
live in Bloomington IL, McLean County 61701. I have pasted
one shot and attached others. Regards
Tim Lee
Hi Tim,
This is a Mydas Fly, most probably Mydas tibialis based on
the coloration. It could be another member of the genus though
as the body appears more robust than the images posted on
BugGuide.
This is the third excellent photo of this species submitted
in the last ten days.
Mydas Fly
(07/24/2007) This one is still alive!
Dear Bugman,
My husband took this picture after watching it lure a wasp
with the thing on it's head. When the wasp got within
range it grabbed it, did something to it and let it fall to
the ground. The wasp appeared stunned or dying and was
unable to fly. We live in the country in West Central
Indiana. We try not to kill anything if we don't have
to. This Insect is sitting on a Rose of Sharon Bush.
It is about 2 inches long, black with orange legs and an orange
thing sticking out of it's head. Since I am allergic
to wasps I am hoping this is something I want around my house
since I have quite a problem with wasps. Is this insect
going to be a problem for me though also? Please could
you identify this insect for us? Thank You,
Annette & Carl J.
Gosport, IN
Hi Annette and Carl,
This is a Mydas Fly, Mydas tibialis. According to BugGuide:
"Some adults, especially males, take nectar. Adults, long
thought to be predatory, are perhaps not! Some females do
not feed as adults. Larvae are predators of larval beetles,
mostly." Your observation of this specimen attacking a wasp
is quite interesting.
Mydas Fly
(07/17/2007) ???
Dear Bug Folk (or bug-knowledgable artists),
Hope you're still answering queries. What's my bug? Almost
a blue iridescent tinge to the body in bright sun. A little
scary!!
Thanks, Sue Lenaerts
Hi Sue,
Mydas Flies are harmless, but we were unfamiliar with this
species with orange legs and antennae. Searching BugGuide
led us to Mydas tibialis.
Bot Fly
(07/16/2007) Hey Bugman,
Love your site and use it a lot. I believe this is a new born
Carpenter bee. I watched and listened to a Queen bore a nest
in the railing of my deck this spring. This morning
I found this on a leaf below where the hole from the nest
is. I thought I would share with you and your followers these
pictures of a new born. It has quite a "cute" pig
like face and exclamation points in it's eyes. Thank you,
Glenn
Chicago, Illinois
 
Hi Glenn,
You are mistaken in your identification. This is not a bee,
but a fly. It is a Bot Fly to be exact. Bot Flies are mammalian
endoparasites. There are species in the tropics whose larvae
live inside human hosts, but the North American species are
parasitic on rodents. They are also called Warble Flies. Eric
Eaton has this to add: "Hi, Daniel: The bot fly is another
species in the genus Cuterebra, the rabbit and rodent bot
flies. The red in the eyes is characteristic of some species.
Don't know if there is a good website on them, but there is
a great technical book on them with some nice images and lots
of information on their bizarre biology.... Eric"
Mydas Fly
(07/09/2007) Wasp ID
I found this "wasp" or hornet making a nest in an
old stump in Connecticut. It was a hot day and there were
many of them. What kind is it?
Gary
Hi Gary,
This is not a wasp, but a Mydas Fly. Mydas Flies are often
mistaken for wasps. According to our Audubon Guide: "The slender
larvae, which reach 1 1/2" (38mm) when fully grown, live in
soil or rotting wood and prey on beetle larvae." The nest
building you thought you observed has two possible explanations
in our minds, though the two explanations might be combined.
You might have seen a mass emergence of adults from their
larval home after metamorphosis or you might have seen a congregation
of mating adults laying eggs where the larvae will have a
ready food source. You might even have seen the mass emergence
of adults and the subsequent mating, with the next generation
occupying the ancestral home. Adult flies eat caterpillars,
bees, other flies and hemipterans.
Thanks for the info. Dan. I'm not an entomologist, but have
a strong interest in nature an photography. My old maple stump
(about 1 m. in diameter and dead about 7 years has been a
great source of amusement. Every year some new mammal, fungus
or group of insects appear!) Keep up your good service to
curious people.
Gary
Bot Fly Carnage
(07/07/2007) This bug is big...
Dear Bugman,
I found this bug on our inside garage window, Buffalo, WY
(high desert). I thought the noise must be coming from a large
bee or something because of the loudness of the buzzing. I
have looked some on the internet, but can't seem to find a
match. I hope some of the pics are helpful. It is an inch
long from front to back of the wing. If you look it in the
face, it looks like a bulldog.It has a kind of shell over
its thorax, similar to a beetle. It's mainly curiosity
to know what it is, as we have only seen one. However,
we do have small children and a dog, so if it's a nasty, I
need to know. Thanks!
darla. Buffalo, WY
Hi Darla,
This amazing creature is a Bot Fly or Warble Fly. The larvae
of Bot Flies are endoparasites. Most North American species
have rodents as host, but tropical species are human parasites.
Bot Flies are in the family Oestridae, and New World species
are in the subfamily Cuterebrinae. Though there is a Central
American species of Bot Fly that will parasitize humans, the
North American species are harmless unless you are a squirrel
or rabbit.
Bathroom Flies Mating
(07/05/2007) Can you identify that bug?
Hi,
In my house, we have a bug problem! We can find lots of the
bugs I'm sending you, we had found two sources but they disapeared
just a few days! They come from very black thin worms and
larvae open to make them live. The source need water! Please
help me! Amicalement,
Cindi
 
Hi Cinci,
These are Bathroom Flies, Clogmia albipunctata, and one image
shows a mating pair. They are often found indoors in bathrooms
and the larva live in sludge in the pipes and drains.
Syrphid Fly
(Independence Day/2007) wasp or bee?
Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me identify this
beautiful insect. It looked like it was gathering food from
a lime tree in my garden which is located in Long Beach CA.
It looks a bit like a great golden digger wasp but I'm no
expert. Thanks much for your site, its fabulous.
Jess
Hi Jess,
This is neither a bee nor a wasp, but a Syrphid Fly. We found
a visual match that was found in Fullerton California on BugGuide
for the genus Sphaerophoria.
Bot Fly
(07/03/2007) Large black and grey fly
Hello,
My name is Dacon, and I live in Wisconsin. The other
night my family and I were getting ready to have a meal in
our gazebo, when I noticed this large fly on the inside wall
of the gazebo. I tried to catch it in a can, but slipped
up. However, it did perch on the edge if the lid for
a close-up. It was grey and black with black wings,
plus two stubby wings or horns just in front of the wings. It
was also about an inch long, and thich bodied. I have
searched for an identity, but have been unsuccessful.
Please help. Thank you for your time.
Hi Dacon,
This amazing creature is a Bot Fly or Warble Fly. The larvae
of Bot Flies are endoparasites. Most North American species
have rodents as host, but tropical species are human parasites.
Bot Flies are in the family Oestridae, and New World species
are in the subfamily Cuterebrinae.
Green Horse Fly
(06/28/2007) Unusual fly
Could you identify this fly? I caught it tonight flying
around my sister's room, freaking her out as if it was going
to attack her. I tried searching google for it, but
there seems to be a lack of information on flies. All
help is greatly appreciated.
Dave
 
Hi Dave,
All of the Green Horse Fly images on BugGuide came from North
Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Green Horse Flies are in the
genus Chlorotabanus.
Bee Fly
(06/27/2007) Hummingbee?
Took these photos this morning near Omaha, NE. The insect
hovers constantly, moving from flower to flower. It
is about the size of a honeybee. Can you tell me what
it is? Thanks!
Doug Wulf
Hi Doug,
Bee Flies in the genus Bombylius are flies that act like bees.
Mydas
Fly and Great Golden Digger Wasp
(06/26/2007) thanks again!
Thanks very much for posting my photo of the cabbage butterflies!
I was able to identify these two wasps I took photos of today
A spider wasp, and a golden digger wasp; thanks as always!
Adam
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Mydas Fly |
Great Golden Digger Wasp |
Hi
Again Adam,
Not only are you an accomplished nature photographer, it seems
you have a stable of coopertive models at your disposal. Both
of your images are a welcome addition to our site. We hope
you haven't gotten spoilt by us posting three letters with
four images in two day.
(06/27/2007) Adam's Spider Wasp
Greetings, Bugman!
I think that the "blue-black spider wasp" that Adam sent may
be a mydas fly. The photo angle, though very beautiful, makes
for a slightly harder ID on account of perspective and foreshortening.
Thanks again for the wonderful site!
Emily
Thanks Emily,
We were rushing and missed that.
Syrphid Larva at a banquet of Aphids
(06/25/2007) White Caterpillar
Hi Bugman. I have 2 Vitex bushes covered with what looks
like little black eggs. There are baby caterpillars
nearby and I am unsure as to what caterpillar eggs look like,
but I am guessing that's what they are.?.?.? We have these
furry white caterpillars. They are much "whiter"
in person, but I did not see any white, furry caterpillars
with black dots on your site. I am guessing they are
a kind of moth, but can you tell me more? Thanks!
Stacey Browning
Dallas, TX
Hi Stacey,
Sadly, we do not recognize your white caterpillar and it would
take too much time that we don't have right now to provide
you with an identification. We can tell you that you are mistaken
about the other image you believe are caterpillar eggs. Your
Vitex bushes are infested with Aphids, and that is a bad thing.
The good thing is that the caterpillar with them is actually
a predatory Syrphid Fly Larva and it will devour the Aphids.
Back to the bad news. It won't be able to eat them all. Any
pesticide you use will also kill the beneficial Syrphid Fly
Larvae. You might want to try manually removing some of the
terminal branches as aphids tend to congregate on new growth.
Hanging Thief devours Thread-Waist Wasp
(06/10/2007) Wow!
I caught this carnage in my garden, is this a Robber Fly?
Thanks
Art Brunson
Hi Art,
What a gorgeous photograph. This is not just a Robber Fly,
it is more specifically a Hanging Thief in the genus Diogmites
feeding on a Thread Waist Wasp in the family Sphecidae. That
Hanging Thief is demonstrating how it earned its common name.
We have issues with your use of the term Carnage. Our Unnecessary
Carnage page is reserved for Insects and other small minunderstood
creatures that have met with a messy end thanks to human intervention.
Awesome documentation like your image goes to our Food Chain
page as part of the wonders of nature.
Mating
Golden Backed Snipe Flies
(06/07/2007) Bug Love Photos
Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? I saw these
cute little buggers by our office around 7 a.m. one morning,
(Pearl River, NY, right on the NY-NY line about 6 miles west
of the Hudson River). I thought they were some kind
of fly until l saw the photos of the clearwing moths. However
these guys are smaller – maybe 5/8” wingspan.
I read on one of the linked bug sites there is a smaller species
of clearwings that resemble bumblebees (but no photo). Maybe
that’s these guys. Their head and body structure
still looks awfully fly-like to me though. Love your site!
Nice to know there are other bug-lovers out. What beautiful
photos. What beautiful lil’ critters. Best Regards,
Jeanne Guderian
Hi Jeanne,
You are right about them being flies. These are mating Golden
Backed Snipe Flies. Your wonderful photo shows the wing veination
quite nicely.
Unknown
Dipteran with Air Balloon: Male Dance Fly
(06/05/2007) Mosquito with a puff-ball?
We were hiking in Citico Creek Wilderness of the Cherokee
National Forest of east Tennessee, when we ran into groups
of large mosquito-like insects flying around with large, white,
air-filled balls, seemingly made of a material produced by
the insect. They were flying around each other, as if in a
mating dance! Occasionally one would land on a leaf and
I was able to get this photo, what is it and what is the ball
for? By the way, he is sitting on the leaf of an almost extinct
American Chestnut sapling!
Dan Vance
Cleveland, TN
Hi Dan,
This has us mystified. It is a Dipteran but we do not know
anything about the species nor the air balloon phenomenon.
We have requested assistance from Eric Eaton. Here is Eric's
speedy response: "Hi, Daniel: That fly from Tennessee is
a male dance fly (family Empididae). Males of some species
present females with prey they have killed, as a pre-nuptial
mating gift. This probably preoccupies her from eating him
! A few species "giftwrap" their prey in balloons like that
shown in the photo. A few devious species will simply present
an empty balloon. Cheapskates! This courtship behavior is
not uncommon, but rarely seen, so kudos to the photographer
for being so observant and curious. Find more images of this
under Empididae
at Bugguide.net . Eric "
Long Legged Fly
(06/03/2007) Tiny green fly
I took this picture of a very tiny fly yesterday, and was
wondering if you knew what the species was. He measured less
than a centimeter head to tail. (Feel free to post the photo
to the site, if you'd like.) Thanks!
Kerry
Hi Kerry,
This is a Long Legged Fly in the family Dolichopodidae. We
believe it is in the genus Condylostylus. Long Legged Flies
prey on small insects.
Syrphid FLy
(05/27/2007) Bee? Fly? Beefly?
I took this photo of an insect that looks like half bee, half
fly. I called it a beefly. Can you tell me what it is? Thanks!
Enjoy your site immensely!
Doug Wulf
Hi Doug,
This is a Syrphid Fly. We believe we have found an exact species
match on BugGuide
with Helophilus fasciatus.
Mating Small-Headed Flies, not Bee Flies
(05/25/2007) Hello, I have tried to get an ID on this insect.
The picture is taken in in Northern California (the foothills
of the Trinity Alps) at about 2000 elevation. Here are two
different photos. Thank you for any help you can give me.
Jim
 
Hi Jim,
We incorrectly identified these as Bee Flies, but you have
set us straight.
Thank you so much for the compliment on the photos. I appreciate
your time. At the same time I contacted you, I also went to
a couple of other sites and found this identification: http://bugguide.net/node/view/40630
There seems to be a bit of difference between your ID and
the ID on this site. I am not an entomologist but, rather,
a hobby photographer who was curious about my find. Do you
think the bugguide is on point? Again, thanks for taking the
time and have a nice rest of the weekend.
Jim
Hi again Jim,
We will generally change our identifications if BugGuide,
which is awesome, differs from us. If BugGuide believes these
to be mating Small-Headed Flies in the Genus Eulonchus, we
believe it.
Black Soldier Fly
(05/14/2007) possible Black Soldier Fly
Hi. I've recently moved to a rural setting in Grady county
in SW Georgia and I'm surrounded by all types of critters
which are new to me. I ask for help verifying an insect as
a Black Soldier Fly because I'm considering enlisting them
in composting household food waste. The more I read about
BSF the more I appreciate them. I'm curious what you're feelings
are about "using" an bug like this. Here is a link
to a company which will soon be marketing a device for just
that purpose. http://www.esrint.com/Bio.html
The photo "possibleblacksolierfly" was taken in
a house. The others were taken outdoors on food scraps. Thanks
for the great website,
Jerry.
 
Hi Jerry,
Yes, this is a Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens. The white
tarsi or legs, which are especially noticeable on the window
photo, are a distinguishing feature. Though we know nothing
about the product you mention, we would fully endorse if if
it worked. Keeping the fly population going might be a problem.
Black
Horse Fly: male on plants and female biting
(05/12/2007) Male Black Horsefly Sucking Blood?
Hello again,
It may please you to know that my 2 1/2-year-old son is finding
both bugs (of which he went through a little terrified period
just a couple weeks ago after a black ant pinched him kind
of hard) and photography fascinating all of a sudden, since
we've been spending a good bit of time browsing WTB looking
for critters we're turning up as spring springs here in our
part of the world. With bugs he's still not ready to touch
them much, and when taking pictures he finds it easiest to
aim the camera either straight down at something or to set
it on a surface aimed at what he wants to capture, but it's
a good start on both fronts. Anyway, I was perusing pages
looking for what I believe to be a rove beetle (but over an
inch long), and we came across a post about a male black horse
fly stating that only the females, which look noticeably different,
suck blood. I thought critter in the attached pics was a black
horse fly, but according to the description it must be a male
so I'm wondering if anyone can explain the other attached
pic? This was on my lower back, and of the six pics I took
trying to get it's mouthparts and the four other holes it
punched in me (some of which you can just barely see around
the little fella's head) before it got this good one, only
this image turned out at all clear. I let him eat as long
as I could stand it, but I couldn't wait for him to get his
fill before I had to brush him away. This was also in Jacksonville,
NC. Any thoughts? Peace,
Peace
 |
 |
| Male
Black Horse Fly |
Female
Black Horse vFly |
Hi again Peace,
You have correctly identified the male Blach Horse Fly, Tabanus
atratus, on the plant, but if you look closely at the individual
that is biting, you will see that there is a space between
the eyes, indicating the she is a female. You must be quite
limber to have gotten that photo of the feasting on your lower
back. We expect to be seeing photos from your budding photographer
in the future.
Ah! Thank you. I had fixated on this bit from an entry on
The Big Black Horse Fly - "Females have smaller eyes *as well
as having a white hairy thorax*" - rather than the entry on
the Black Horse Fly. Thank you for clearing it up! We'll definitely
share anything DS captures that might be of use to WTB. I'm
really looking forward to seeing what his eye is drawn to
and how his personal photographic style develops. He sort
of helped capture our possible rove beetle, but I can't by
any means credit him with having taken those pics, 'though
I will be sending one or two along for confirmation (if y'all
have the chance to do so) once I get them uploaded, trimmed,
and sized. As always, many thanks for your effort and dedication
to this very good thing you've created. Take good care. :->
Peace,
Peace
PS I don't know if I'm limber, or if the pain of the bite
just distracted me from the pain of the stretch! :-D I try
to be generous with all the little critters in my immediate
world so long as they're not infesting homes or endangering
lives, but dang, if these critters want to suck blood, they've
gotta find a way to do it less painfully (and then maybe they
can teach those skills to tax lawmakers.
Bee Fly
(05/03/2007) Can you identify this insect?
Hello,
I found this in my lawn. It's the size of a common housefly,
but very distinctive with the clear/colored wings. It appears
to have a nector probe. Any idea what it is? Thanks!
John
Hi John,
This is a Major Bee Fly, Bombylius major. It is a nectar feeding
fly that is found in both North America and Europe.
Soldier Fly Larva
(04/23/2007) What the heck is this thing???
Hello -
These larvae are in our swimming pool. I noticed them this
morning submerged with their breathing "tube" attached
to the water surface, similar to what you see with mosquito
larvae. These are about 1 inch long. The top [left] picture
is the dorsal view, and the bottom [right] is supine. If you
are able to ID then my next question is if these are harmful
to humans. Thanks!
Sam Rua
Tucson
Hi Sam,
This is some type of Aquatic Maggot, or Fly larva. We will
bet on it being a Horse Fly Larva. We can find similar images
online, including a drawing,
but no exact match. BugGuide
has an interesting entry from a person who was bitten by a
Horse Fly Larva. As far as the adult flies go, only the females
bite. Horse Flies are also known as Gad Flies. Eric Eaton
then wrote in with the following comments: " Daniel: I suspect
these are actually the larvae of soldier flies (family Stratiomyiidae),
but I'm not positive. Typically, horse fly larvae have a leathery
appearance, and are much larger (mature specimens at least).
Eric"
Bee
Fly from the U.K.
(04/11/2007) What is this please?
Hello bugman,
having looked through many websites without any success, you
are my last hope! On 5th April whilst hanging out the washing
at about 9am, I found this strange bug sitting on a peg on
the washing line. There had been a frost that morning and
the bug seemed very dozy! I was able to move the peg and bug
so that I could photograph it (see attached). I took a couple
of photos and put the peg and bug back where I found it. The
bug had flown off by lunchtime that day. I live in Oxfordshire,
UK and never seen anything like this before around here -
can you help? Many thanks,
Gary
 
Hi Gary,
This is a Bee Fly in the family Bombyliidae. It looks very
similar to the North American species in the genus Bombylius.
Bee Flies are true flies with two, not four wings, and they
feed on nectar and pollen.
Cool! This is Bombylius major, the Greater Bee Fly. This is
the largest bee fly in England and the most commonly seen.
The species occurs through Eurasia, and through the USA and
most of Canada, and, according to what I read on BugGuide,
it is the only species in these areas that has that crisp
black and clear wing pattern. There's lots of info and pictures
of this critter on-line, including a very good entry on BugGuide.
For some UK examples see:
http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm and http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/bombyliidae.htm
Susan
Long Legged Fly and Flesh Fly
(03/25/2007) Long Legged Fly and Flesh Fly
WhatsThatBug, (my apologies if you've received this multiple
times due to technical difficulties with my computer) I have
a few photos to submit for your site, if you find them up-to-par
and/or needed. - Photo A: I noticed that you have a few long-legged
fly photos, but they are from "artistic" angles.
Great photos! But I thought you'd also like this straight
on shot, for easy identification. Photo B: A cane fly, of
course, affectionately called a "mosquito hawk"
here. These guys swarm from March to April (+/-). They're
no problem unless they get into the house where you better
catch it quick or risk letting it die a painful death in an
incandescent lamp (the upturning bowl kind). The halteres
(balancers?) are visible behind the wings. This appears to
be a female with egg-swollen abdomen, but I'm no expert. -
Photo C: One of the photographs is of a fly I didn't see on
your fly pages - the flesh fly. At least, that is what I gather
from the description here:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2111.html. She (?)
amicably posed near my husband's garden. The fly probably
completed much of it's lifecycle on a dead squirrel my kids
found in the yard last week. It was about 1 cm in length.
... Thanks for all of your work and helping me differentiate
between scary helpful bugs and those I should genuinely avoid.
I hate to kill another creature, and it's worse when I do
it out of self-defense (or defense of my kids playing in the
backyard) to find that the "wasp" I've killed is
really a garden/people-friendly bee fly or mydas fly and no
real threat. Your work is really appreciated!
Kaylene
Bossier City, (Northern) Louisiana
 |
 |
| Long
Legged Fly |
Flesh
Fly |
Hi Kaylene,
We will be posting your Long Legged Fly and Flesh FLy photos.
Thanks so much for filling the Flesh Fly void on our site.
Japanese
Beetles mating and Syrphid Fly feeding
(02/19/2007) Bedroom or dining room?
Dear Lisa Anne and Daniel,
"Must You Do That While I'm Eating?" Think of this
bug love episode as nature's own shunga, especially as its
main characters are Japanese beetles. Isn't it bizarre that
the bee-mimic hover fly (in addition to being there in the
first place) is actually HOLDING this flower's stamen while
it slurps? Taken in Pennsylvania on a July afternoon in 2001.
Jim & Sandy
Hi Jim and Sandy,
Thank you for this humorous image that will get archived to
numerous pages: Beetles 11, Flies 3 and Bug Love 4.
Golden
Backed Snipe Fly
(st. Valentine's Day 2007)
I took a picture of this bug in June 2006, I've looked and
looked but still can't find what it could be. I live in NW
Indiana, which is also where I seen this. I thought it was
beautiful but could you help me?
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
This is a Golden Backed Snipe Fly, Chrysopilus thoracicus,
and we get most of our photos of this species from the midwest
in mid June.
Unidentified Australian Tachinid Fly
(01/22/2007) What is it?
Found by a friend in her garden in cygnet, AR Australia
Dee Stephen
Hi Dee,
We are relatively certain this is some species of Tachinid
Fly, but sadly, we cannot find a species match on the awesome
Geocities
Tachinid Page. All Tachinid Flies have larvae that are
internal parasites on insects, especially caterpillars, beetles,
true bugs, grasshoppers and stick insects.
Unknown
Mutilated Wingless Australian Fly is actually a wingless female
Chiromyzinae species
(01/13/2007) Australian bug
Hi
These pictures are of a bug which was found in my courtyard
in the Blue Mountains, Australia. It was only about 2 cm in
length. I have been trying to keep a record of the different
wildlife which live in my backyard, something which started
last year as a school project, but have been unsuccessful
in identifying this creature. Can you help? Best Wishes
Petah
 
Hi Petah,
We have tried to identify this Wingless Fly, but sadly, we
had no luck. We are checking if Eric Eaton has any clues.
Here is Eric's revelation: "I have no idea what the wingless
fly is, but it would appear it once 'did' have wings, and
they were torn off at some point. That is a pity, as wing
venation patterns are of the greatest help in identifying
flies!"
Update: (09/20/2007) forwarded through Eric
Eaton
I have a second question, how to get in contact with the people
from "Whats that bug"? They had a pic of a Unknown Mutilated
Wingless Australian Fly (01/13/2007) Australian bug And this
turns out to be a Stratiomyidae, Boreoides subulatus, the
females are always wingsless and it looks not even close to
something we know here in the USA as a strat. It is out of
the strange subfamily Chiromyzinae and this is an only Southern
continent group. Only one species is introduced to Cal as
a pest... So maybe you can email the people and give them
the answer to their question. Also further down they have
an Acrocerid as a Bombyliidae and a suspected "Mallota" which
is a Merodon equestris. Looking forward to see your book!
Cheers
martin |
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