mystery bee in the U.P. of Michigan

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
negaunee Ishpeming, MI Aug 17, 2011

I have never seen this one before. It was probing deep into the flower. I live in Upper Michigan.

Thumbnail by negaunee
Post #8761652
Quote
flatpickit Charleston, SC Aug 18, 2011

This mystery bee is actually a fly (Diptera) in the family Bombyliidae. Flies in this family are called "bee flies" because they tend to resemble bees and the adults feed on nectar at flowers as bees do. There are around 70 genera of bee flies and around 800 species in North America. We can be sure that it is not a Syrphid fly because of the long proboscis that is visible in your pic. I wish I could tell you which species this is, or even which genus, but I can only guess. The genus Lepidophora is similar, though bugguide.net does not report it in your state. You can browse this genus here:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/2779/bgpage

and learn more about bee flies in general here:

http://bugguide.net/node/view/185

Post #8764014
Quote
Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 19, 2011

Bugguide data clearly show the genus Lepidophora as occurring in Michigan. And as their site states, available data may not reflect total distribution for many species.

Post #8764272
Quote
flatpickit Charleston, SC Aug 19, 2011

The Bugguide info tab "clearly" does not list MI for the range of any of the listed Lepidophora spp. The Bugguide data tab does include MI. I did not view the data tab before posting, only the info tab. Thank you for sharing how clearly it is shown on that page.

I chose to suggest looking at this genus precisely because the ranges given at bugguide.net may not reflect its total distribution.

Post #8764765
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP