Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Some Australian Beeflies

Posted by Susan R Walter on 12-05-2006 21:14
#1

All of these were collected on the bullbar mesh of the our vehicle south of Daly Waters in the Northern Territory.

This one is c5mm.

Posted by Susan R Walter on 12-05-2006 21:15
#2

I think this one is the same species. Its 'fur' was dense and silvery.

Posted by Susan R Walter on 12-05-2006 21:22
#3

I think this is one of the Anthrax sp group of short tongued beeflies, 'ubiquitious' according to Evenhuis in the Bishop Museum Catalog. There were a number of similar species, with variations in the white pattern on the abdomen and the amount of black shading on the wings.

Posted by Susan R Walter on 12-05-2006 21:28
#4

I think this one is Exoprosopa sp. Sorry about the head being back to front - bit disconcerting I know. I didn't realise until after we had done the photos that I had placed it wrongly (fell off when I removed it from the car grill - you get that:()

I witnessed this species, or a very similar one, engaging in some sort of display activity, where a pair would fly with the one in the rear slightly higher, but always keeping the same distance apart. This activity seemed to me to be fairly agressive, but I was not sure if it was two of the same sex or different.

Posted by Susan R Walter on 12-05-2006 21:33
#5

I include this banded bee, which I think is Amegilla sp, because of its striking similarity, especially in the field, to the previous beefly.

There was another Amegilla flying that had the most astonishing turquoise or sky blue bands which I was never able to photograph.

Posted by Xespok on 13-05-2006 07:29
#6

There is a Bombyliid similar to your first image in Japan.

Posted by Susan R Walter on 13-05-2006 17:20
#7

Interesting - thanks. Looks like Anastoechus has become Choristus in Australia, and there are two species, neither of which are listed for the Northern Territory - but that doesn't always mean much. I'll see what else I can find out.

They are very appealing little fuzzballs, aren't they?:D