bee fly

Chrysanthrax cypris is a showy, medium sized to large, banded bee fly. It occurs in the United States from New Jersey to Florida, west to southern Minnesota and eastern Texas. It also occurs in Mexico and Central America. It is most common in the East Coast and Gulf Coast states. Though not widespread in Minnesota, it was reported as common at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Anoka County.

Adults are most active in mid-summer, July and August. They are found in dry, open, sunny areas. They can be seen flying over flowers or resting on the ground, basking in the sun. They feed on flower pollen. The larvae are parasites of tiphiid flower wasps (Family Tiphiidae).

Adults are stout-bodied, hairy, and 5⁄16″ to ⅝″ (8 to 15 mm) in length.

The antennae are shorter than the head, and they have three segments. The third segment (flagellomere) is cone-shaped, and it has a bristle (arista) at the tip. The rear margin of each compound eye is strongly indented. The tube-like mouthpart (proboscis) is short, extending less than the length of the antennae.

The abdomen is black. The upper side is covered to a variable amount with yellow and orange hairs. The sides are densely covered with soft, woolly, orange hairs. There are no white bands.

The wings are as long as the abdomen. The basal half is dark brown, and it is sharply divided from the clear outer half. The dark area does not have spots or clear windows. Vein M₁ ends behind the wing tip. Vein R₂₊₃ has a single curve near the end. It is not connected to vein R₄. The discal cell is present and there are four posterior cells. The anal cell is open at the wing margin.

The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. There is a pair of claws at the end of the last segment, and there are two pads at the base. The pads are rounded, not tooth-like. On the front legs, the fourth segment (tibia) does not have long bristles, and the claws are shorter than on the other legs.

Total length: ½″ to ⅝″ (12 to 15 mm)

Dry, open, sunny areas

July and August

Tiphiid flower wasps (Family Tiphiidae)

Flower pollen

Sources

27, 29, 30, 82, 83.

This species has no common name. The common name of the Family Bombyliidae is bee flies, and it is used here for convenience.

Chrysanthrax cypris golden-backed bee fly

Chrysanthrax cypris, a golden-backed bee fly, is a stunning fly with golden hairs on its thorax and abdomen. The photos attached are of a somewhat worn fly, which had lost some of its golden hairs. This quick-moving fly was on wild quinine at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. Photo was taken on July 30, 2022.

Babette Kis
7/30/2022

Location: Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI

Chrysanthrax cypris, a golden-backed bee fly, is a stunning fly with golden hairs on its thorax and abdomen. The photos attached are of a somewhat worn fly, which had lost some of its golden hairs. This quick-moving fly was on wild quinine at Barnes Prairie, Racine Co., WI. Photo was taken on July 30, 2022.