This fly is approximately 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length. The thorax is covered in buff-colored fuzz. The abdomen is also fuzzy, but it has black and white bands all the way to the end. The proboscis is very long, sharply pointed and black except for the base which is yellowish. The eyes are large and green. These flies are very similar to bee flies and are identified by the wide face, the proboscis which is longer than the head, and the wing venation, shown here. Identification of this species was confirmed by volunteer experts at BugGuide.
This insect was photographed at Neale Woods in late June.
These flies make a loud, high pitched buzzing sound when flying. There are 6 species and 3 genera of these rare flies in North America. The larvae are endoparasitoids of grasshoppers. Females can lay several thousand eggs in their lifetime. Eggs are laid randomly in fields where grasshoppers are likely to occur. The eggs hatch in about 10 days into very active larvae called planidia. The planidia search for hosts and when found attach themselves and enter the host to begin feeding.
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