Hi,
After uploading some pics of my Bee Balm blooms (Monarda 'Grand Marshall') I noticed this insect on one of them . Since Monarda is a favorite of Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds, I'm guessing (hoping?) it might be a beneficial pollinator of some sort, but didn't have any luck finding it in BugFiles.
Various members have helped me in the past to identify "unknown-to-me" insects. I would appreciate any info you can give me.
Here are a couple of pictures.
THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!
Definitely a friendly; it's a flower/hover fly in the family Syrphidae; the adult flies are good pollinators and the larvae of some species are predators on aphids.
Flapdoodle ~ Thank you sooo much!!! It's always great to discover a new beneficial insect in my yard and wonderful that there are such knowledgeable members so willing to share what they know.
You identified another "new to me" friendly last Summer (Soldier Beetle 'Chauliognathus'). I posted my pics in BugFiles and made sure to let everyone know how helpful you were (hope you don't mind).
Thanks, again!!
You're welcome - It's always nice to find 'good guys' in one's garden...
