northeast-flora-and-fauna

Tiger Bee Flies are not tigers , nor bees , but are a type of fly . (This is fairly normal species naming nomenclature; if the name consists of multiple things, look at the last name and you're most likely to get a sense of what kind of species you've got.) These guys may look like horseflies on steroids, they're much closer to being human allies than human adversaries: As adults, they are basically pollinators that don't bite humans at all. They might be of benefit to your flower or vegetable garden though. As larvae, they are considered to be the primary parasite of the Carpenter Bees . The females lay eggs in the wood cavities in which Carpenter Bees lay their eggs, and the Tiger Bee Fly larvae will attach to the Carpenter Bee larvae and eventually consume them. (The Carpenter Bees sometimes to minor damage to wooden structures.) It seems appropriate that one of my area's largest bees is parasitized by one of my area's largest flies. Based on pictures I...

Here's someone I hadn't seen before, though I may be seeing more of; it's a Sculptured Resin Bee . Native to Japan and China, these invasive bees are starting to show up here in the US. Like most bee species, they are solitary bees that live off pollen/nectar. They can sting, but usually don't. There are 2 main concerns about them: They (understandably) prefer to nectar on invasive plants from Asia, which probably helps these invasive plants thrive and spread. They might hurt the our carpenter bees. Since they are tunnel nesters but can't chew through wood themselves, their best strategy might be to take over the tunnels built by local carpenter bees . They get their name because, after laying eggs in their tunnel nests, these bees close the tunnel with resin. They are considered leafcutter bees , though the classic leafcutter bee closes its tunnel with leaves that it has cut. July 18, 2021 at Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary Photo 148188333, (c) jpviolette, some...

Here are a couple Bumble Bee Mimic Robber Flies I ran across a couple months ago. And while it may look like they had an argument and are disdainfully looking away from each other, they're actually mating. Although there could be exceptions, in general I believe flies (including robber flies), butterflies/moths, and true bugs tend to mate with the ends of their abdomens connecting, while with beetles, mantises, and grasshoppers the males mount the females. (Yes, I've seen a fair amount of "insect porn" out there - these guys are shameless.) These flies are a little unpopular in some circles because: We've been told we need to protect bees. These robber flies actually eat bees. (I suspect they'll eat bee relatives we tend to feel less empathy for, like wasps/hornets, unless the wasps/hornets are substantially bigger than our bees.) Note that I don't see enough robber flies that I believe they're having much of an effect on bee populations. My guess is ...

I think this is an Eastern Common Bumble Bee . At least one person on iNaturalist agreed with this identification, it looks plausible, and this is considered to be one of the most common (hence in name) of our bumble bees. Bumble bees are sometimes confused with other insects like honey bees or carpenter bees or bumble bee mimics like the Snowberry Clearwing Moth and some hover flies. While honey bees and carpenter bees are obviously related, flies and butterflies are basically just trying to look like someone who can sting you ( Batesian mimicry ). Though their hive-dwelling honey bee cousins get a lot of the love and attention, technically they're an invasive species (albeit an important one for agriculture/horticulture). If you're trying to support native wildlife, supporting our native bumble bees is an excellent start. I'm thinking that the brown mass on the back leg is a pollen basket , the way that a bumble bee can transport pollen back to its nest. August 16, 2020...