Syrphid Fly – Mallota Species


Syrphid Fly – Mallota Species

Syrphid Fly - Mallota sp.

Many syrphid flies mimic bumble or honey bees or wasps in their quest to avoid predators averse to attacking insects with stingers.

Syrphids, of course, have no stingers – yet they reap the benefits of having a venom-delivery system without paying the metabolic costs of actually constructing one.

This fly is a brilliant example of bumble bee mimicry. For comparison, take a look at the brown-belted bumble bee pictured below.

Bumble bee

brown-belted bumble bee

Oh – syrphids provide pollination services just like the bees and wasps they emulate.

Female Robber Fly, Laphria grossa

Female Robber Fly, Laphria grossa is another bumble bee mimic in the family Asilidae, the robber flies.

Flies Index

North American Insects & Spiders

Online since 2002