Flower Fly (Ocyptamus fuscipennis)

About the only information I could find on this little Syrphid fly was that it is a beneficial insect. It's larvae are aphid predators. Females lay their eggs in aphid colonies. A BugGuide image shows a female ovipositing on an aphid.

BugGuide: Species Ocyptamus fuscipennis
BugGuide: Genus Ocyptamus

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Flower Fly (Ocyptamus fuscipennis)

Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda pennipes)

Identification:  About the size of a large housefly.  Thorax is mostly black.  Abdomen is bright orange.  Has a fringe of comb-like black hairs on rear legs.  Smokey wings.  The wings of males have a darker area.  The abdomen tip of females is black.

Range:  Native to North America and found in most areas.

Food:  Adults feed on nectar.  Larva are parasites of certain true bugs, primarily squash bugs and stink bugs.

Habitat:  Found wherever crops that will attract its host species are growing.  Often hovers over squash plants searching for prey.  (BugGuide Species Page)


Life Cycle:  The female fly lays one to many small, white or gray, oval eggs on large nymphs or adult bugs. The larvae burrow from the egg directly into the bug's body. Only one larva survives within each pest bug. A large, cream-colored maggot exits from the body of the bug, drops to the ground, and pupates in a dark reddish-brown, capsule-like puparium. The bug soon dies.  A new generation of adult flies emerges to lay eggs about two weeks later. Each female fly may lay several hundred eggs, and there may be three generations each year, depending on location. The parasitoid overwinters as a larva within the body of the overwintering bug, emerging in late spring or early summer.  (Cornell University ... site also includes photos of several life cycle stages)

Remarks:  T. pennipes appears to have different biotypes across the country, preying on very specific hosts in different regions. (Cirrus Images)

The stinkbug "stink" that repels many predators, seems to attract T. pennipes.

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Feather-legged Fly (Trichopoda pennipes)

Robber Fly (Ommatius ouachitensis)

All Robber Flies (Family Asilidae) are predators. They capture prey and inject neurotoxins to immobilize. After also injecting digestive enzymes, they suck out the liquidized innards of their prey, leaving little remaining except for an exoskeleton.

Members of genus Ommatius are easily identified because they are the only North American species with feathery antennae, although these are difficult to see without binoculars or in a photo. You can see the fuzzy moth-like branching of the antennae in the enlarged versions of these photos.

Species identication within this genus is much more difficult, especially for females like the one I photographed, because Ommatius is currently separated into species by characteristics of the male genitalia. On his website, Norm Lavers does note that black on the hind femur takes up more than 25% of the length in O. ouachitensis. The ID I received for this specimen on BugGuide was tentative as are most of the other IDs I found online. Therefore, I will say that this Robber Fly is definitely a member of genus Ommatius and probably an O. ouachitensis.

I photographed this specimen during the late afternoon in a small clearing behind our garden. Becoming most active as dusk approaches seems typical for this species. They perch in open locations waiting to ambush a passing insect. Typical perches are bare twigs, fence wire or, in this particular case, the straw in my mug of water. I've found O. ouachitensis relatively easy to photograph because they tend to remain perched and are not easily disturbed. I've even watched through my camera's viewfinder as one of these Robber Flies suddenly left and then returned to the same location with an insect a second or so later.

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Robber Fly (Ommatius ouachitensis)

Wasp Mimic Flower Fly (Spilomyia alcimus)

Wasp Mimic Flower Fly

(Spilomyia alcimus)

Range: Wisconsin to Newfoundland, and south to Mississippi and Florida. (1)

Size: 15-18 mm ... around 5/8". (1)

Habitat: Open areas with flowers near forests. (2)

Food: Adults take pollen and/or nectar from various flowers. (2)

Identification: Yellow pigment pattern on eyes ... "V" mark on thorax (scutum, in front of scutellum) ... short antennae. (Short antennae are almost always the quickest way to know you are observing a fly and not a wasp.) (2)

Remarks: A very convincing wasp mimic: The yellow pattern on the eyes of S. alcimus helps disguise its "fly eyes". Observers report this species often rests on its four posterior legs and waves it black front legs mimicking the antennae movement of a wasp. (2)

Comments: This specimen was photographed "feeding" on the outside of a plastic watering can. There was no water on the outside of the can, but there was a dried residue of fish emulsion. I assume this attracted the fly to the watering jug.

 Sources and additional information:

(1) BugGuide Species Page
(2) BugGuide Genus Page.
(3) Field Guide to the Flower Flies of Ontario (Pinned images with identification characteristics.)

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Wasp Mimic Flower Fly (Spilomyia alcimus)

Tachinid Fly (Genus Peleteria)

In general, most tachinid flies are relatively large and bristly.  They often mimic wasp or bees.













Adult tachinids feed on pollen and nectar.  Larvae are parasites, preying on other insects -- often caterpillars.  Most tachinids deposit their eggs directly on the body of their host, and it is not uncommon to see caterpillars with several tachinid eggs on them. Upon hatching the larva usually burrows into its host and feeds internally. When fully developed it leaves the host and pupates nearby.   Larvae of Genus Peleteria prey Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths).








There are 1,345 species in 303 genera of tachinid flies in North America.  They can be found practically anywhere and everywhere. Tachinids are often abundant on sunny hilltops looking for mates.









Information source:  BugGuide

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Tachinid Fly (Genus Peleteria)

Tiger Bee Fly (Xenox tigrinus)

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Tiger Bee Fly (Xenox tigrinus)

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These relatively large flies (12-19 mm -- 5/8" or so) don't start showing up around our place until mid-summer. Then, I most often notice Tiger Bee Flies among the rafters on our porch. They often hover near a rafter and then thump it with their heads. I don't quite have the sequence of events worked out yet, but what the flies are doing is hunting for a unprotected nest containing carpenter bee larvae. If successful, the female Tiger Bee Fly will lay her eggs in the nest and her larvae will feed on the carpenter bee larvae.

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Tiger Bee Fly (Xenox tigrinus)

Thick-headed Fly (Physoconops sp)

Thick-headed Fly (Physoconops sp)

Another one of the wasp-mimic flies, most thick-headed flies resemble thread-waisted wasps. Adults visit flowers and feed on nectar. Larvae are internal parasites of bumblebees and various wasps. The female Physoconops is said to lay her eggs on host species while in flight. The eggs hatch and bore into the host which they consume from the inside out.


(Photos from 7/04/07)

Thick-headed Fly (Physoconops sp)

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Kiss me!

Another Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Picture-Winged Fly (Tritoxa incurva)

Picture-Winged Fly (Tritoxa incurva)

Cannot find a lot of information on this fly. BugGuide says Tritoxa incurva is widespread in central and eastern North America. It is found in fields and meadows. The food of adults is said to be unknown with the suggestion that perhaps they take nectar as they are often seen in meadows with flowers. Most larvae of this fly family (Ulidiidae) are scavengers on decaying organic matter.

This particular picture-winged fly was found on our front steps and was eating carpenter bee poop.

Thanks to Ron at BugGuide for the ID

Picture-Winged Fly (Tritoxa incurva)

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Spiky long before being punk became cool. Genus presumably named after the Greek philosopher and mathematician Archytas.

I couldn't find any information specific to this genus, but in general, BugGuide says:

Tachinid fly larval stages are parasitoids of other insects. Some tachinids are very specific and others can parasitize a wide variety of hosts. The most common hosts are caterpillars. Most tachinids deposit their eggs directly on the body of their host, and it is not uncommon to see caterpillars with several tachinid eggs on them. Upon hatching the larva usually burrows into its host and feeds internally. When fully developed it leaves the host and pupates nearby. Some tachinids lay their eggs on foliage; the larvae are flattened and are called planidia; they remain on the foliage until they find a suitable host.

Thanks to Kenneth Harrelson on BugGuide for the ID.

Tachinid Fly (Archytas sp.)

Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

Golden Dung Flies range throughout most of the world. They are found in pastures, woods, parks, gardens -- just about anywhere dung and/or other flies might be found. Adults are voracious predators of other flies and, sometimes, other small insects. The female dug fly lays her eggs in piles of guess what? Dung, of course. When the larvae hatch they consume the dung as they develop into pupae which burrow into the soil beneath the dung pile and continue developing into adult flies. S. stercoraria can produce four or five generations per year depending upon the climate.



Sources and links:
BugGuide Species Page
Stephen Cresswell Photography

Golden Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

ABC Wednesday: S is for Soldier Fly

Soldier Fly (Odontomyia cincta)

Soldier flies are typically found in the spring or early summer throughout much of North America. Their habitat includes woodlands and fields, usually near water. Adults take nectar and are also sometimes found on dung. Eggs are laid very near water (on reeds, grasses, etc.). Larvae are aquatic and feed on algae.





Source: BugGuide Genus page


Thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for hosting ABC Wednesday.
Visit her blog to participate.

ABC Wednesday: S is for Soldier Fly

Stiletto Fly (Ozodiceromyia sp)

Stiletto Fly (Ozodiceromyia sp)

The common name refers to the narrow, tapering abdomens of these relatively small flies. (This one was a little less than a half inch long.) Family Therevidae.

Habitat: Usually found in open areas and often seen resting on foliage or flowers in the sun. (This particular specimen was found resting on a shelf in our booth on the courthouse lawn in Tupelo, MS.)

ID Notes: Usually gray flies with moderately tapering abdomens. Five posterior cells with the fourth sometimes closed. Somewhat elongated 3rd antennal segment. Similar to robber flies, but without the beard. Stiletto flies also have more slender legs and no depression between the eyes.

Thanks to Martin Hauser at BugGuide for the ID.

Stiletto Fly (Ozodiceromyia sp)

Syrphid Fly

Syrphid Fly - Toxomerus marginatus

These are some of the smallest (3/16" or so) of a group of flies often called Hover Flies. They feed on nectar and pollen and, with their black and yellow markings, seek to mimic bees or wasps. However, syrphid flies cannot sting.



Syrphid flies are generally consider beneficial because the adults are pollinators and their larvae are voracious consumers of aphids, thrips and small caterpillars.

Source: BugGuide

Syrphid Fly

Scaly Bee Fly

Scaly Bee Fly (Lepidophora lepidocera)

Another bee fly. This one nectaring on a black-eyed susan. I don't remember ever seeing one of these until a few days ago. Of course, until I started taking photos of them, I didn't pay attention to most bugs if they weren't trying to suck my blood or sting me.

While the adult scaly bee fly eats nectar, it's larvae is a parasite of solitary wasps. Typically, the female wasp excavates a small burrow in the soil, provisions it with insects she has stung, lays eggs and seals the burrow. The bee fly tries to get her egg into the burrow before it is sealed. When it hatches, the bee fly larvae will consume the developing wasp larvae.

Sources:
Cirrus Images
BugGuide

Scaly Bee Fly

Sinuous Bee Fly

Sinuous Bee Fly (Hemipenthes sinuosa)

One of the many larger bee flies that frequent flowers and eat nectar (and maybe pollen). Many of the bee flies have a long proboscis but this species does not.

"Sinuous" is based in Latin and refers to the wavy, undulating border formed by the black area on the fly's wings.

Sources:
BugGuide: Sinuous Bee Fly
BugGuide: Family Bombyliidae

Sinuous Bee Fly

Sooty Crane Fly -- Male

Sooty Crane Fly (Tipula fuliginosa) -- Male

The male and female sooty crane flies are appear very different. (They are sexually dimorphic.)
In fact, for many years they were thought to be different species, before someone figured out they were actually male and female of the same species.

One characteristic that clearly defines the male sooty crane fly is its characteristic asymmetrical male genitalia.



See also:
BugGuide
Crane Flies of Pennsylvania

Sooty Crane Fly -- Male

Sooty Crane Fly -- Female

Sooty Crane Fly (Tipula fuliginosa) -- Female

The female Sooty Crane Fly had a much heavier and darker body than does the male.

Additional resources:
BugGuide
Crane Flies of Pennsylvania

Sooty Crane Fly -- Female

Syrphid Fly

Syrphid Fly (Toxomerus geminatus)

These small (1/4" or so) flies are sometimes called flower or hover flies and are generally considered beneficial. Adults serve as pollinators. (The one above is helping to pollinate an ox-eye daisy.) Larvae consume aphids.

Additional information:
BugGuide
Texas A&M University

Syrphid Fly

Waved Light Fly

Waved Light Fly (Pyrgota undata)

It may look like a wasp, but it isn't. It's a fly -- a good fly. Its larvae are internal parasites of adult Scarab beetle (like June bugs). The female waved light fly lays a single egg in each beetle. The larva that hatches consumes the beetle from the inside out, killing it within two weeks.

See also:
BugGuide Post
BugGuide Info

Waved Light Fly