bare-eyed mimic

Bare-eyed mimic is a large, woolly, long-haired, bumble bee mimic, hoverfly.

The thorax is black and is densely covered with long yellow hairs.

The abdomen is short, stout, and black. The first abdominal segment is bare and shiny. The remainder is densely covered with short black hairs except for a few yellow hairs on the forward angle of the second segment.

The head is broader than the thorax. The compound eyes are large, black, and bare, not covered with hairs. The antennae are short and have three segments. The third antennal segment is very short, much shorter than wide.

The legs are black. At the base of the third and largest segment (femur) of each leg is a covering of short, black, bristly hairs (setae). The femurs on the hind leg is heavy.

Like all flies, and unlike all bumble bees, there is only one pair of wings. They are smokey and clear. The anal cell is long and is closed near the wing margin. The marginal cell is open. The third vein (R3) bends deeply, but does not loop, into the cell at the tip of the wing (apical cell). The R5 cell is closed.

Total length: 7 ⁄16″ to ⅝″

Woodlands and woodland edges

Mid-May through July

It is often found in groups at the top of a hill or other elevated area.

When it flies it produces a loud buzz.

It does not bite or sting.

Larvae are filter feeders in tree cavities filled with water

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82, 83.

Fairly common in eastern United States and Canada

Location: Woodbury, MN