Oh to Bee a Fly in the lettuce!!
May 10, 2010 7:15 AM Subscribe
Insect Identification: Is this a bee or a fly? What kind?
This little guy showed up in our spinach/lettuce garden in Southern California. Any ideas what it is?
Thanks MeFites!
This little guy showed up in our spinach/lettuce garden in Southern California. Any ideas what it is?
Thanks MeFites!
Best answer: Interesting! I've always called them syrphid flies. More info and pictures of hoverflies at the always-awesome whatsthatbug.com.
posted by jquinby at 7:40 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by jquinby at 7:40 AM on May 10, 2010
A pollen wasp or common hornet would be my guess, based on the short, clubbed antennae.
I can't find a direct match though.
posted by Danf at 7:54 AM on May 10, 2010
I can't find a direct match though.
posted by Danf at 7:54 AM on May 10, 2010
Best answer: Looks like a syriphid (hover fly). You can distinguish between a fly (diptera) and a bee or wasp (hymenoptera) on a basic level by determining if there is one or two pair of wings.
posted by bolognius maximus at 8:01 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by bolognius maximus at 8:01 AM on May 10, 2010
Best answer: I think that's the best bug ID photo I've ever seen on AskMe. It does indeed look like a hoverfly, but I think your photo may be a better view than those on the linked pages.
posted by amtho at 8:14 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by amtho at 8:14 AM on May 10, 2010
Best answer: Thats a syrphid fly, genus Syrphus. You can tell by the bronze colored thorax. Here's a photo I took of the same genus with a little info on them.
posted by sanka at 8:37 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by sanka at 8:37 AM on May 10, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks very much everyone. Syrphid/hover fly it is. Credit to Mr. SLC for the photo.
And it's a pretty darn good shot that sanka has too. That is excellent information.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:15 AM on May 10, 2010
And it's a pretty darn good shot that sanka has too. That is excellent information.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:15 AM on May 10, 2010
"You can distinguish between a fly (diptera) and a bee or wasp (hymenoptera) on a basic level by determining if there is one or two pair of wings."
for me, the easiest way is that bees and wasps look like larged winged ants. spade shaped head, extreme narrowing between body segments etc.
posted by nihlton at 10:18 AM on May 10, 2010
for me, the easiest way is that bees and wasps look like larged winged ants. spade shaped head, extreme narrowing between body segments etc.
posted by nihlton at 10:18 AM on May 10, 2010
Bees and wasps have segmented moving antennae. That hoverfly does not have.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:42 AM on May 10, 2010
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:42 AM on May 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by A Thousand Baited Hooks at 7:25 AM on May 10, 2010 [1 favorite]