Help to ID please (2 Viewers)

Paminfra

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2006

• #1

I'd be grateful if anyone could help with this. I assume it is some kind of very small bee. It's also a very noisy one with an extremely loud (for its size) continuous buzz rather like a high-pitched saw. Thanks.

 

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Brian Stone

A Stone chatting

• Jul 10, 2006

• #2

It's one of the Bee-flies (family Bombyliidae) distinguished by the long straight proboscis which they cannot retract. There are a few species.

That is a lovely picture.

 

Paminfra

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2006

• #3

brianhstone said:

It's one of the Bee-flies (family Bombyliidae) distinguished by the long straight proboscis which they cannot retract. There are a few species.

That is a lovely picture.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much Brian - I thought it was some kind of flying Unicorn with that proboscis!

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jul 11, 2006

• #4

Very interesting insect (brood parasitic life history) a bit like a Cuckoo, and an interesting flower too, North American Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata). Presumably this shot was taken next to water?

Steve.

 

Brian Stone

A Stone chatting

• Jul 11, 2006

• #5

steve_nova said:

Very interesting insect (brood parasitic life history) a bit like a Cuckoo

Click to expand...

Yes, they have this extra metamophosis where the first stage larva feeds benignly on nectar, etc. in a nest but after the first moult changes appearance and becomes more like a maggot which feeds on the bee larvae.

Many are identifyable from photo and yours looks pretty distinctive so an expert might be able to name it.

 

Paminfra

Well-known member

• Jul 11, 2006

• #6

steve_nova said:

Very interesting insect (brood parasitic life history) a bit like a Cuckoo, and an interesting flower too, North American Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata). Presumably this shot was taken next to water?

Steve.

Click to expand...

Yes, Steve, it was taken on the plant which is on the edge of my pond but I thought it was a South American plant so will have to look for the label....it has tall spike shaped flowers of multiple smaller ones and spear shaped leaves if that helps.

As for the insect, I'm most grateful to you and Brian for the info. I'd never seen one before and it's not around today apparently, so will try to Google it. What did we do before Google? Thanks again,

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jul 12, 2006

• #7

Hi Pam,

In North America it is called pickerel Weed though you are right in that its range also extends right down into Argentina.

"Pickerelweed in common in wetlands (the transition zone between aquatic habitats and terrestrial habitats) from Minnesota and Nova Scotia, southward to Texas and Florida, the West Indies and all the way to Argentina" ( from Floridata website http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/pont_cor.cfm)

 

T

timvid

Member

• Jul 13, 2006

• #8

Pam,

There's a similar insect photo and identification at the top of this page:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/flies_2.html

Tim
www.WildlifeTheater.com

 

Paminfra

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2006

• #9

timvid said:

Pam,

There's a similar insect photo and identification at the top of this page:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/flies_2.html

Tim
www.WildlifeTheater.com

Click to expand...

Thanks, Brian, Tim and everyone else who has helped me with this one. From what I've found it seems to be the Heath Beefly and to have the name of the plant as well is great. Shows the value of forms such as this.