Robber Flies
Bee Mimics
The insect diversity in our yard has increased significantly each year since adding native plants.
My husband spotted this black and yellow wasp mimic just this weekend perched on some foliage.
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| Xylomya terminalis |
It's actually a fly dressed like a parasitic wasp. A Xylomyid Fly (Xylomya terminalis), it lays eggs under bark or in wet wood where its larvae develop and "feed on the larvae of other insects" (Insects Their Natural History and Diversity). I would suspect that its larvae are parasitized by Ichneumon wasps.
you have the coolest insects but I might surprise myself by watching my insects and seeing more than I imagined...will have to spend more time doing that this summer
ReplyDeleteSuper pictures. I too need to pay more attention to the critters visiting my plants. Thanks for your insect posts, they are very informative.
ReplyDeleteWow, these are really cool. I know I have many more insects as my garden grows and I add more native plants. These wasp mimics I have yet to see although I do have quite a variety of flies. Last night I watched the fireflies for the first time this summer - which apparently are beetles not really flies. Just amazing. I am sure you have many many interesting insects. Warblers, too, since they eat them. Also enjoyed your previous post about the elderberry and warblers!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna,
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you have many interesting insects in your landscape. Good luck.
Heather
Hi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, I'm glad you like the insect posts.
Heather
Hi VF,
ReplyDeleteWe have a few fireflies but I hope to see more. Our weather hasn't cooperated to sit out in the evenings and watch for fireflies.
Heather