Bee-fly
Guides
Poecilanthrax willistonii
Williston's bee fly
Poecilanthrax willistonii is a North American bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. The genus Poecilanthrax is strictly North American in distribution, with the greatest abundance of species and individuals found in the Great Basin region. Like other members of the genus, the larvae develop as parasites inside caterpillars of cutworms and armyworms (family Noctuidae). Adults are typically found in arid and semi-arid habitats, often associated with flowering plants where they feed on nectar.
Poecilognathus
Poecilognathus is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) distributed across North, Central, and South America. The genus contains at least 20 described species. These flies are members of the subfamily Phthiriinae and tribe Poecilognathini. As with other bee flies, adults are typically flower visitors, though detailed biological information for most species remains limited.
Poecilognathus badius
Poecilognathus badius is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. The genus Poecilognathus belongs to this diverse family of true flies, whose larvae are predominantly parasitoids of other insects. Information specific to this species is extremely limited in available sources.
Poecilognathus damfino
Poecilognathus damfino is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, subfamily Phthiriinae, described by Evenhuis in 2024. The genus Poecilognathus is part of the tribe Poecilognathini, a group of small to medium-sized bee flies characterized by their distinctive wing venation and often metallic coloration. As a recently described species, specific details about its biology and distribution remain limited.
Relictiphthiria
Relictiphthiria is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) established by Evenhuis in 1986. It belongs to the subfamily Phthiriinae and tribe Poecilognathini. The genus is known from a small number of observations (21 records on iNaturalist as of source date), suggesting it is either rare, poorly sampled, or restricted in distribution. As with other bee flies, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Sparnopolius confusus
Aster Bee Fly
Sparnopolius confusus is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) measuring 6–9 mm in length. It is known to be a parasitoid of June beetles (Phyllophaga). The species is widely distributed across most of the United States and parts of Mexico. It is commonly referred to as the Aster Bee Fly due to its association with aster flowers.
Systoechus candidulus
Systoechus candidulus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Loew in 1863. It is known from Ontario, Canada, and across most of the United States. The species is distinguished from the related genus Bombylius by adult activity timing—Systoechus species tend to be active in fall rather than spring. Its larvae are predators of grasshopper eggs, a trait that differs from the parasitoid lifestyle of many other bombyliid larvae.
Systoechus oreas
Systoechus oreas is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It is known from western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada and the western United States. The larvae are predators of grasshopper eggs, a trait that distinguishes this species ecologically from many other bee flies. Adults are active in the fall, in contrast to the spring-active members of the related genus Bombylius.
Systropus arizonicus
Arizona bee fly
Systropus arizonicus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Banks in 1909. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico, with confirmed records from Arizona and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Systropus, this species is parasitic in its larval stage. The genus belongs to the subfamily Toxophorinae, a group characterized by their distinctive wing venation and parasitic life history.
Systropus bicornis
Systropus bicornis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Painter & Painter in 1963. The species is known from Mexico. As a member of the genus Systropus, it belongs to a group of bee flies characterized by distinctive morphological features. Beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic occurrence, detailed biological information remains limited.
Thevenetimyia affinis
Thevenetimyia affinis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Hall in 1969. The genus Thevenetimyia belongs to a group of bee flies characterized by their parasitoid larval lifestyle. As with other members of Bombyliidae, adults are likely nectar feeders, while larvae develop as parasitoids of other insects, typically solitary bees or wasps. The species is documented through 27 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is recognized in field records but remains poorly studied in the scientific literature.
Thevenetimyia luctifera
A species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, found in western North America from Mexico to British Columbia. As with other bee flies, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen, while larvae are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects. The species is documented by 26 observations on iNaturalist, suggesting it is encountered infrequently.
Thevenetimyia tridentata
Thevenetimyia tridentata is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Hull in 1966. Bee flies are a diverse family of true flies known for their parasitoid larval biology, typically attacking the immature stages of other insects. The genus Thevenetimyia belongs to a group of bee flies characterized by distinctive morphological features. Specific biological details for T. tridentata remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Thyridanthrax
bee flies
Thyridanthrax is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) comprising approximately 12-50 described species distributed across Eurasia, Africa, North America, and South America. Species within this genus are parasitoids with documented associations with various hosts including crabronid wasps and calliphorid flies. The genus exhibits diverse parasitism strategies, with some species capable of facultative switching between idiobiont and koinobiont modes.
Thyridanthrax atratus
Thyridanthrax atratus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. The species occurs in western North America, ranging from California and Nevada northward to British Columbia, Canada. Bee flies in this family are typically parasitoids of other insects, though specific host records for this species are limited.
Thyridanthrax fenestratoides
Thyridanthrax fenestratoides is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae. Its range extends from the Yukon through Canada, across most of the United States, and into Mexico. The species is morphologically similar to the Eurasian T. fenestratus. As a member of the genus Thyridanthrax, it is a known parasitoid of solitary wasp nests, with females observed hovering over open burrows and depositing eggs into tunnels.
Thyridanthrax luminis
Thyridanthrax luminis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Hall in 1970. The species is known from California. Bee flies in this genus are parasitoids, with females laying eggs in the nests of solitary wasps. A related species, Thyridanthrax sp., has been observed parasitizing nests of the thread-waisted wasp Ammophila aberti in Arizona.
Thyridanthrax melanopterus
Thyridanthrax melanopterus is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) in the genus Thyridanthrax. The genus is known for parasitoid behavior, with females depositing eggs into the burrows of solitary wasps. Observations of related Thyridanthrax species indicate females hover over host nests and lob eggs into tunnels. This species has been documented in 32 iNaturalist observations.
Thyridanthrax nugator
Thyridanthrax nugator is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, native to western North America. The species is known from California and Oregon. As a member of the bee fly family, it likely exhibits the characteristic hovering flight and parasitic larval lifestyle typical of the group, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus Thyridanthrax belongs to the tribe Villini within the subfamily Anthracinae.
Thyridanthrax pallidus
Thyridanthrax pallidus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Coquillett in 1887. The genus Thyridanthrax belongs to the subfamily Anthracinae and tribe Villini. Bee flies in this genus are known for their parasitic or kleptoparasitic life history strategies, with females depositing eggs into the nests of other insects. T. pallidus has been observed as a potential parasite of thread-waisted wasps in the genus Ammophila.
Thyridanthrax selene
Thyridanthrax selene is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The genus Thyridanthrax includes species that are parasitoids of solitary wasps, with females observed hovering over open wasp nests and depositing eggs into burrows. Limited observational records exist for this species.
Toxophora
bee flies
Toxophora is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) comprising approximately 47 described species with worldwide distribution. These flies are characterized by a distinctive hunchbacked, robust body form and are most abundant in the southwestern United States and western Mediterranean region. Larvae are parasitoids of solitary wasps and bees, particularly in the family Vespidae.
Toxophora amphitea
Toxophora amphitea is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It is known from eastern North America, ranging from Ontario south to Florida and Texas. The species has been documented as a parasite of mason wasp nests, specifically those of Ancistrocerus campestris. As a member of the subfamily Toxophorinae, it belongs to a group of bee flies characterized by particular morphological and ecological traits.
Toxophora leucopyga
Toxophora leucopyga is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described by Wiedemann in 1828. The genus Toxophora belongs to the subfamily Toxophorinae, a group characterized by parasitic larvae that develop in the nests of solitary wasps and bees. This species, like other members of its genus, is known to parasitize the nests of mason wasps.
Toxophora maxima
Toxophora maxima is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) first described by Coquillett in 1886. The species ranges from Mexico through the western United States to British Columbia, Canada. As a member of the subfamily Toxophorinae, it belongs to a group of bee flies characterized by distinctive morphological features, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Toxophora pellucida
Toxophora pellucida is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It has been recorded from Mexico through most of the western United States to Canada. The species belongs to the subfamily Toxophorinae, a group characterized by particular morphological features within the bee flies.
Toxophora virgata
Toxophora virgata is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae, described by Osten Sacken in 1877. Its geographic range extends from Mexico through the western United States to Canada. The species is known to parasitize potter wasps in the genera Odynerus and Stenodynerus.
Toxophorinae
bee flies
Toxophorinae is a subfamily of bee flies (Bombyliidae) established by Schiner in 1868, comprising more than 400 described species across five extant genera (Dolichomyia, Geron, Systropus, Toxophora, Zaclava) and two extinct genera (Melanderella, Paradolichomyia). The subfamily is characterized by parasitoid life histories, with larvae developing in the nests of solitary wasps. Species of Toxophora have been documented as parasitoids of sphecid and vespid wasps, including genera such as Isodontia, Cyphomenes, Pachodynerus, and Zethus.
Triploechus novus
Triploechus novus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Williston in 1893. It belongs to the genus Triploechus, a group within the bee fly subfamily Bombyliinae. The species is part of a diverse family of flies known for their parasitic larval stages and adult pollination behavior.
Villa arenicola
Villa arenicola is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described by Johnson in 1908. The species epithet "arenicola" indicates a sand-dwelling habit, consistent with many Villa species that inhabit sandy environments. As a member of the bee fly family, it likely exhibits the group's characteristic parasitoid lifestyle, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented. The genus Villa is among the more speciose genera in Bombyliidae, with adults typically visiting flowers and larvae developing as parasitoids in the nests of various insects.
Villa chromolepida
Villa chromolepida is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Cole in 1922. The species is known from the United States. As with other bee flies, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen, though specific behavioral and ecological details remain undocumented. The genus Villa contains numerous species of bee flies, many of which are parasitoids of other insects.
Villa fulviana
Villa fulviana is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. As a member of the genus Villa, it shares characteristics typical of this group of parasitoid flies. The species has been documented in taxonomic databases and represents part of the diverse North American dipteran fauna.
Villa harveyi
Villa harveyi is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Hine in 1904. The species belongs to the genus Villa, a group of bee flies characterized by their bee-like appearance and parasitoid larval biology. As with other members of Bombyliidae, adults are likely nectar feeders while larvae develop as parasitoids of other insects, though specific host records for this species remain undocumented. The species has been recorded from North America, with observations spanning Canada and the United States.
Villa hypomelas
Villa hypomelas is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Macquart in 1840. Originally described as Anthrax hypomelas, it was later transferred to the genus Villa. Bee flies in this family are characterized by their parasitic larval lifestyle and adult nectar-feeding behavior. The species has been documented in the United States with 27 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Villa lateralis
Villa lateralis is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, characterized by distinctive yellow and black banding on the abdomen and yellow thoracic hair. The species is widely distributed across North America and Central America. Like other bee flies, it is a parasitoid, though specific host relationships for this species remain poorly documented.
Villa miscella
Villa miscella is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, a diverse group of true flies known for their parasitoid larval biology. The genus Villa contains numerous species distributed across the Holarctic region, though specific details about V. miscella remain limited in published literature. Like other bee flies, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen, while larvae develop as parasitoids of other insects, typically ground-nesting bees or wasps. The species has been documented through citizen science observations, with 95 records on iNaturalist.
Villa nigra
Villa nigra is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Cresson in 1916. As a member of the genus Villa, it belongs to a group of parasitoid flies whose larvae develop in the nests of bees and wasps. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited information available regarding its biology, distribution, and host associations.
Villa nigricauda
Villa nigricauda is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) first described by Loew in 1869. The genus Villa contains parasitoid flies whose larvae develop in the nests of bees and wasps. This species belongs to the subfamily Anthracinae and tribe Villini. Available information on this species is extremely limited, with only a single observation documented on iNaturalist and minimal published literature.
Villa nigropecta
Villa nigropecta is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, described by Cresson in 1916. The genus Villa comprises medium-sized bee flies commonly known as 'bee flies' due to their resemblance to bees. Members of this genus are parasitoids, with larvae typically developing in the nests of ground-nesting bees and wasps. The specific epithet 'nigropecta' refers to dark coloration on the thorax.
Villa vanduzeei
Villa vanduzeei is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Cole in 1923. Bee flies in this genus are known for their parasitoid larval biology, typically attacking the immature stages of other insects, particularly bees and wasps. The species is part of the diverse Villa genus, which contains numerous species across multiple continents. Like other bombyliids, adults likely feed on nectar and pollen from flowers.
Xenox
Tiger Bee Fly
Xenox is a genus of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae, established by Evenhuis in 1985. The genus contains five described species, all of which are parasitoids whose larvae develop inside the nests of carpenter bees in the genus Xylocopa. The most widely known member is Xenox tigrinus, commonly called the tiger bee fly, which is frequently observed near human structures where carpenter bees nest.
Xenox delila
Xenox delila is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, found in California and Baja California Norte. As with other bee flies, adults are likely pollinators that visit flowers for nectar. The genus Xenox includes parasitic species whose larvae develop in the nests of other insects.
Xenox habrosus
Xenox habrosus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It is found in Mexico, California, and Arizona. As a member of the genus Xenox, it is likely a parasitoid of carpenter bees (Xylocopa), though specific host records for this species are not well documented.
Xenox xylocopae
Xenox xylocopae is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, first described by Marston in 1970. It is distributed in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the genus Xenox, it is likely associated with carpenter bees (Xylocopa), though specific host relationships have not been extensively documented.