CLOSED: Is this bee an Apis mellifera

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towler faicchio, Italy Nov 14, 2013

I believe it to be sp. mellifera, but since I cannot find similar markings on the many illustrations in my field guides, I am not certain. Hope a member can help.

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Post #9708927
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 14, 2013

Not a bee at all, but a male flower/hover fly in the family Syrphidae - looks like an Eristalis sp. - see http://www.commanster.eu/commanster/Insects/Flies/SpFlies/Eristalis.rupium.html for an example.

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C_A_Ivy Barling, AR(Zone 7b) Nov 14, 2013

Flapdoodle, you are amazing in your ID ability. With your genus diagnosis, I checked out Eristalis on several sites. Could Eristalis tenax - Drone Fly be the species ? Which is shown in http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/665/ .

Post #9709152
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Nov 14, 2013

Eristalis tenax is indeed a possibility - see http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Hoverfly025.jpg for an image. However, I also know that there are other European species in this genus that can have a similar appearance - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eristalis.horticola.male1.jpg for an example.

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C_A_Ivy Barling, AR(Zone 7b) Nov 14, 2013

Thanks Flapdoodle for the info. Several possibilities indeed. I'm just starting to get familiar Syrphidae. I'll probably go stir crazy in the process.

Post #9709175
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