Mystery Fly / Bee Mimic

[xSarahx]

Went to a local nature reserve the other day and came across a stunning fly thing! I will try to describe it as best as i can, but if someone could possibly point me in the right direction for looking up an ID for it, then that would be great!

Ok, well it was the same size as a very large bumblebee, with a jet black abdomen and thorax, which were both very hairy. It's abdomen was almost round in shape, making it look very fat and chunky! It had a creamy coloured hairy face with two large black (compound?) eyes. It had two big antenae things sticking out the front of it's face (as many flies seem to have) and a funny proboscis/tongue thing (that looks the same as a house fly has, close up). It's legs were completely black, and it had clear wings that had an orangey tint near the base of each wing that appeared to run down each large "vein" or ridge in the wing.

Sorry about the lack of specialist vocab when describing but I am fairly new to insects!

I hope someone can help me ID it.

Thanks in advance.

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Sarah

Try Volucella bombylans,which is a Hoverfly that mimics a Bee.


Cheers Jason

[xSarahx]

I checked it out, but it's definately not that. Mine had no other colour on it's body other than black, and the eyes weren't as big on my fly, but thanks for trying to help!!

[squishy]

Perhaps one of the larger Tachinid flies?

Something like this: ? (Credit to bugbotherer for that photo)

[JRsbugs]

Muscidae, Mesembrina meridiana...

Janet

[xSarahx]

Originally Posted by squishy

Perhaps one of the larger Tachinid flies?

Something like this: ? (Credit to bugbotherer for that photo)

YES!!!!!!!! That's definately the same one I saw!!!!!

Thankyou!!

[JRsbugs]

Originally Posted by xSarahx

YES!!!!!!!! That's definately the same one I saw!!!!!

Thankyou!!

Before you get too excited, check out my suggestion as it's very similar.

[xSarahx]

Mesembrina meridiana is very similar, but it is absolutely identical to the tachnid fly.

[JRsbugs]

Tachina grossa