This robber fly is approximately 3/4 inch (20 mm) in length. It has a gold-colored beard on the face. The eyes are large and black, and the antennae are straight and black. The top of the thorax is covered with thick gold-colored hair. The abdomen is black, and although it has some black fuzz, it has a glossy appearance. The legs are all black with black hairs. The wings are a clear brown and project beyond the tip of the abdomen.
The frequency of occurrence is not currently known, but it is the earliest Laphria to appear in the spring. Look for it hunting insects in sunny openings in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods.
It is very similar to L. macquarti which has yellow mid-tibias. It is also similar to L. virginica which looks more fuzzy on the abdomen and has a reddish-brown tone to the fuzz on the legs. Their prey is other insects, including damselflies. Members of the genus Laphria include species that are bumble bee mimics. There are about 63 species in North America.
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