Wasp-mimic
Guides
Monoceromyia
Monoceromyia is a genus of hoverflies (Syrphidae) in the tribe Cerioidini. Species occur across the Afrotropical, Australasian, Neotropical and Oriental biogeographic regions. The genus is characterized by wasp-mimicking appearance and distinctive morphological traits including widely separated metapleura and modified antennal and abdominal structures.
Monoceromyia floridensis
Rufous Wasp Fly
Monoceromyia floridensis is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae, described by Shannon in 1922. As a member of the tribe Cerioidini, it belongs to a group of wasp-mimicking syrphid flies. The species is known from Florida and surrounding regions of the southeastern United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits Batesian mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Mydas clavatus
Clubbed Mydas Fly
Mydas clavatus is a large, striking mydas fly native to temperate eastern North America. Adults are notable Batesian mimics of spider wasps, displaying bold behavior enabled by their wasp-like appearance. The species is distinguished by a prominent orange to red abdominal marking and clubbed antennae—a trait shared across the genus. Adults are active in mid-summer and have been documented visiting diverse flowering plants for nectar.
Batesian-mimicrywasp-mimicpollinatorwoodboring-predatorMydidaeDipteraeastern-North-Americamid-summernectar-feederscarab-beetle-predatorclubbed-antennaeorange-abdominal-markingspider-wasp-mimicharmlessconspicuousbold-behaviormock-stinging-displayheart-rot-habitatOsmoderma-predatorflowering-plant-visitorlarge-flyglabrate-bodytemperate-forestmeadowgarden-visitordeciduous-woodlandMydas fulvifrons
Mydas fulvifrons is a species of mydas fly (family Mydidae), a group of large, wasp-mimicking flies related to robber flies. The genus Mydas contains some of the largest flies in North America. Like other mydas flies, adults are presumed to be nectar feeders, while larvae are believed to be predators of woodboring beetle larvae. The specific epithet 'fulvifrons' refers to the tawny or yellowish-brown frontal region of the head.
Nemomydas tenuipes
Nemomydas tenuipes is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae, first described by Hermann Loew in 1872. Mydas flies are among the largest flies in North America and are characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance. The genus Nemomydas contains relatively small species within this family. Very little is known about the specific biology of N. tenuipes.
Neoclytus acuminatus
Red-headed Ash Borer, Red-necked Ash Borer
Neoclytus acuminatus, commonly known as the red-headed ash borer, is a North American longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults measure 12–16 mm in length and exhibit striking wasp-mimic coloration with reddish-brown bodies marked by four contrasting yellow bands. The species develops in dead or dying hardwood trees, particularly ash, hickory, and oak, where larvae feed on sapwood. Multiple generations may occur annually in warmer regions. Adults emerge in early spring and are frequently attracted to ethanol-based baits. The species has expanded beyond its native range through human-mediated transport of wood materials and is now established in parts of Europe.
Neoclytus augusti
Neoclytus augusti is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Chevrolat in 1835. It belongs to the tribe Clytini, a group known for wasp-mimicking species with rapid, jerky movements. The species occurs in Middle America and North America, including Guatemala and Mexico. Specific details about its biology, host plants, and life history remain poorly documented in available literature.
Neoclytus caprea
Banded Ash Borer
Neoclytus caprea, commonly called the banded ash borer, is a North American longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults display striking yellow and black (females) or white and black (males) banded coloration that mimics wasps. The species develops in the sapwood of ash, hickory, elm, and oak trees, completing one generation per year. Unlike the invasive emerald ash borer, this native species primarily colonizes stressed, dying, or recently dead wood rather than healthy trees.
Neoclytus conjunctus
Western Ash Borer
Neoclytus conjunctus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by LeConte in 1857. It is commonly known as the Western Ash Borer. The species belongs to the Clytini tribe, a group known for wasp-mimicking appearance and rapid movement. Like other Neoclytus species, it is associated with woody hosts and is distributed in western North America.
Neoclytus jouteli
Neoclytus jouteli is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Donald R. Davis in 1904. Like other members of the genus Neoclytus, it is a wasp-mimicking beetle with rapid, darting movements. The species is native to North America, with records from the United States. Specific details regarding its biology, host plants, and distribution within North America remain poorly documented in available literature.
Neoclytus modestus
Neoclytus modestus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Fall in 1907. It belongs to the tribe Clytini, a group known for wasp-mimicking species with rapid, jerky movements. The species is poorly documented in the literature compared to congeners such as N. caprea and N. acuminatus. Its distribution includes parts of North America, though specific details remain limited.
Neoclytus muricatulus
Neoclytus muricatulus is a species of longhorned beetle in the family Cerambycidae, tribe Clytini. Like other members of the genus Neoclytus, it exhibits wasp-mimicry through rapid movement and contrasting color patterns. The species is recorded from Canada and the United States. Specific details regarding its biology, host associations, and ecology remain poorly documented in published literature.
Neoclytus torquatus
Neoclytus torquatus is a species of longhorn beetle (family Cerambycidae) in the tribe Clytini. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1873. Like other members of the genus Neoclytus, it is likely a wasp mimic with rapid, darting movements that enhance its resemblance to stinging insects. The species is distributed in North America, with records from the United States and Mexico.
Nomadini
Nomad bees
Nomadini is a tribe of cleptoparasitic bees within the subfamily Nomadinae, family Apidae. The tribe contains the genus Nomada, one of the largest genera of cuckoo bees with over 850 species worldwide. These bees are obligate cleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other bees, primarily mining bees (Andrena). They lack pollen-carrying structures and exhibit wasp-like coloration with red, black, and yellow patterns.
Opomydas limbatus
Opomydas limbatus is a species of mydas fly in the family Mydidae. Mydas flies are among the largest flies in North America and are characterized by their elongate bodies and wasp-mimicking appearance. This species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other mydas flies, adults are likely nectar feeders at flowers.
Ospriocerus
robber flies
Ospriocerus is a genus of robber flies (family Asilidae) containing approximately 17 described species. These large, predatory flies are primarily associated with grassland and prairie habitats across western North America. Several species exhibit mimetic coloration resembling spider wasps (Pompilidae), with black bodies and red or orange abdominal markings. The genus has been documented as far north as Canada and south into Mexico. Species such as O. abdominalis represent significant range extensions when found in eastern localities, highlighting the importance of remnant prairie conservation.
Ospriocerus aeacus
Ospriocerus aeacus is a robber fly species in the family Asilidae. Current taxonomic consensus treats this name as a synonym of Ospriocerus abdominalis (Say, 1824), with the latter name having priority. The species has been used frequently in literature under the O. aeacus designation, but this usage is now considered taxonomically unnecessary. As a member of the genus Ospriocerus, it belongs to a group of large, wasp-mimicking robber flies associated with grassland habitats in western North America.
Ospriocerus tequilae
Ospriocerus tequilae is a species of robber fly in the family Asilidae, described by Martin in 1968. The genus Ospriocerus contains large, wasp-mimicking robber flies found in grassland habitats of western North America. The specific epithet 'tequilae' presumably refers to the type locality in Mexico. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Stenopogon tequilae in some taxonomic databases, reflecting ongoing taxonomic uncertainty in the classification of this group.
Paranthrene asilipennis
Oak Stump Borer Moth
Paranthrene asilipennis, known as the Oak Stump Borer Moth, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. Like other sesiids, it exhibits wasp mimicry through transparent wings and a wasp-like body form. The species has been documented across Nearctic and Neotropical regions. It belongs to a genus whose larvae are associated with woody plants.
Paranthrene dollii
Doll's clearwing moth, cottonwood clearwing borer, poplar borer moth, Doll's clearwing, cottonwood clearwing, poplar borer
Paranthrene dollii is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, native to North America. Adults are active from March through October and may produce multiple flights per season. The species is notable for its wasp-mimicking appearance and its larval association with poplar and willow trees, earning it the common name 'cottonwood clearwing borer.'
Paranthrene fenestrata
Paranthrene fenestrata is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Barnes and Lindsey in 1922. Members of this family are known for their wasp- or bee-mimicking appearance, achieved through transparent wings and body coloration. The genus Paranthrene includes species that often exhibit this form of protective mimicry.
Paranthrene pellucida
Pine Oak Clearwing
Paranthrene pellucida is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described in 1979. The common name "Pine Oak Clearwing" suggests association with pine and oak habitats. Like other sesiid moths, adults are wasp mimics with transparent wings and typically have larvae that bore into woody plants. The species is known from the Nearctic region with records from Vermont and the United States.
Paranthrene robiniae
western poplar clearwing, western poplar clearwing moth
Paranthrene robiniae, commonly known as the western poplar clearwing moth, is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. This species is notable for its broad geographic distribution across western North America, ranging from Alaska to southern California and eastward into the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. As a member of the Sesiidae, it likely exhibits wasp-mimicking appearance typical of the family, though specific morphological details are not well documented in available sources. The species name 'robiniae' suggests a possible association with Robinia (locust/black locust), though this host relationship requires confirmation.
Paranthrene simulans
Hornet Clearwing Moth, Red Oak Clearwing Borer, Oak Clearwing Borer
Paranthrene simulans is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, known for its striking resemblance to hornets or wasps. Adults are active during daylight hours and are frequently mistaken for hymenopterans due to their transparent wings, wasp-like coloration, and flight behavior. The species is distributed across eastern North America, where larvae develop as borers in oak and other hardwood trees.
Paranthrene tabaniformis
dusky clearwing, dusky clearwing moth, poplar clearwing moth
Paranthrene tabaniformis, the dusky clearwing moth, is a sesiid moth native to the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry of wasps, with transparent wings and wasp-like coloration. Adults are active from May to August, with flight activity varying by location. The larvae are wood-borers that develop through 6-7 instars, feeding internally on poplar, willow, and sea-buckthorn before pupating in chambers within larval galleries.
Pennisetia marginatum
Raspberry Crown Borer
Pennisetia marginatum, commonly known as the Raspberry Crown Borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. The species is known for its wasp-mimicking appearance and its association with Rubus host plants. It is distributed across the Nearctic region, with records from the Canadian prairies and presumably throughout much of its North American range.
Penstemonia hennei
Penstemonia hennei is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Engelhardt in 1946. Members of the genus Penstemonia are known as wasp-mimicking moths with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species is known from limited records in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Physocephala
thick-headed flies
Physocephala is a genus of thick-headed flies (family Conopidae) comprising parasitoid species that develop as internal parasites of bees and wasps. Adults are wasp mimics with elongated abdomens and heavily pigmented wing margins that resemble the folded wings of potter wasps. Females attack hosts in mid-air, forcibly depositing eggs between abdominal segments. The larvae feed internally, typically killing the host within 10–12 days before pupating inside the hollow exoskeleton.
Physocephala burgessi
thick-headed fly
Physocephala burgessi is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid of bees and wasps. The species exhibits wasp mimicry in appearance and behavior, including an elongated abdomen resembling a wasp waist and dark pigmentation along the front wing margin that mimics the folded wing appearance of potter wasps at rest.
Physocephala floridana
thick-headed fly
Physocephala floridana is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Members of this genus are known to parasitize bees and wasps, with females attacking hosts in mid-air to deposit eggs between abdominal segments. The larvae develop as internal parasites, eventually killing the host. This species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, including Vermont.
Physocephala furcillata
thick-headed fly
Physocephala furcillata is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid that attacks bees and wasps in mid-air, forcibly depositing eggs between the host's abdominal segments. The resulting larvae develop internally, typically killing the host within 10–12 days. The species exhibits wasp mimicry, with an elongated abdomen and pigmented wing margins that resemble the folded wings of potter wasps.
Physocephala marginata
thick-headed fly
Physocephala marginata is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. It is an internal parasite of the solitary bee Anthophora abrupta. The larva develops inside the living host, with pupation occurring only after the bee's death. Like other conopid flies, adults are wasp mimics that frequent flowers for nectar.
Physocephala sagittaria
thick-headed fly
A species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Adults are wasp mimics that frequent flowers for nectar. Females are known to parasitize bumble bees by forcing eggs between abdominal segments, with larvae developing internally and eventually killing the host. The species occurs in eastern North America.
Physocephala texana
thick-headed fly
Physocephala texana is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. It is an internal parasite of bumble bees, specifically Bombus vosnesenskii. The female fly intercepts bees in mid-air and forcibly deposits an egg between the host's abdominal segments. The larva develops inside the living bee, eventually killing it and pupating within the hollow exoskeleton. Adult flies are wasp mimics with elongated abdomens and heavily pigmented wing margins that resemble the folded wings of potter wasps.
Physoconops
thick-headed flies
Physoconops is a genus of thick-headed flies (family Conopidae) containing approximately 13 described species. Members are wasp mimics, resembling potter wasps in appearance and behavior. The genus occurs primarily in the Neotropical and Andean regions, with some species in North America. Like other conopids, Physoconops species are endoparasitoids of bees and aculeate wasps.
Physoconops brachyrhynchus
thick-headed fly
Physoconops brachyrhynchus is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits wasp mimicry, resembling potter wasps in appearance. The species is a parasitoid, with females known to attack bees and wasps to deposit eggs. It has been documented in the northeastern United States, including Vermont.
Physoconops bulbirostris
thick-headed fly
Physoconops bulbirostris is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Members of this genus are wasp mimics, resembling potter wasps in body shape and wing coloration. Like other conopids, this species is likely a parasitoid, with females attacking bees or wasps to deposit eggs. The larva develops internally, eventually killing the host.
Physoconops discalis
thick-headed fly
Physoconops discalis is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Members of this family are characterized by their disproportionately large heads relative to body size. The genus Physoconops includes species that are notable mimics of wasps, particularly potter wasps, with elongated abdomens and wing pigmentation patterns that resemble the folded wings of their hymenopteran models. Like other conopids, they are flower-visiting flies with parasitic larval stages.
Physoconops excisus
thick-headed fly
Physoconops excisus is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Like other members of the genus Physoconops, it exhibits wasp mimicry, resembling potter wasps in appearance. Conopid flies are parasitoids, with females attacking bees and wasps to deposit eggs between their abdominal segments. The larvae develop as internal parasites, eventually killing the host.
Physoconops fronto
thick-headed fly
Physoconops fronto is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Like other conopids, it exhibits wasp-mimicry in appearance and is known to parasitize bees and wasps. The species was described by Williston in 1885. Members of the genus Physoconops closely resemble potter wasps (Vespidae: Eumeninae) in their elongated abdomen and wing pigmentation patterns.
Physoconops nigrimanus
thick-headed fly
Physoconops nigrimanus is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae, first described by Bigot in 1887. Members of this genus are wasp mimics with elongated abdomens resembling potter wasps. The family Conopidae includes parasitic species that attack bees and wasps, though specific host records for P. nigrimanus are not documented. Observations of this species are extremely rare, with only two records in iNaturalist.
Physoconops sylvosus
Physoconops sylvosus is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae. Members of this genus are wasp mimics, with elongated abdomens resembling a "wasp waist" and heavily pigmented anterior wing margins that mimic the folded wings of potter wasps at rest. Like other conopids, they possess large heads relative to body size and beak-like mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Gyroconops sylvosus in some taxonomic databases.
Physoconops townsendi
Physoconops townsendi is a species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae, described by Camras in 1955. It belongs to the genus Physoconops, which includes species that mimic potter wasps in appearance. Like other conopid flies, this species is likely a parasitoid, though specific host associations for P. townsendi remain undocumented in the provided sources.
Physoconops weemsi
A species of thick-headed fly in the family Conopidae, described by Camras in 2007. As a member of the genus Physoconops, it likely exhibits wasp-mimicking morphology and parasitic behavior toward Hymenoptera, though species-specific documentation remains limited. The genus is characterized by elongated abdomens resembling potter wasps and heavily pigmented wing margins that mimic the folded wings of resting wasps.
Placosternus difficilis
Mesquite Borer
Placosternus difficilis is a wood-boring longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae. Adults exhibit Batesian mimicry, resembling black and yellow wasps. The species is strongly associated with mesquite trees (Prosopis spp.), though it has been recorded from multiple host plants and is considered polyphagous. Adults feed on nectar and pollen. The species ranges from the southwestern United States through Mexico and into Central America and the Caribbean.
Podosesia syringae
Lilac Borer, Ash Borer, Lilac Borer Moth
Podosesia syringae, commonly known as the lilac borer or ash borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae found throughout Canada and the United States. The adult moth mimics the appearance of a paper wasp, with transparent wings lacking scales and a wasp-like body form. Larvae tunnel beneath the bark of ash and lilac trees, feeding on the nutritious tissue and potentially causing significant damage over time. The species is a pest of concern for arborists and forest managers, with emergence timing predictable through phenological models based on heat accumulation.
Polybiomyia bellardii
Red-legged Wasp Fly
A small hoverfly (Syrphidae) known for its striking wasp-mimicking appearance. The species exhibits Batesian mimicry of vespid wasps, with a slender body and contrasting coloration. Adults have been documented across multiple observations, though detailed biological studies remain limited. The common name refers to its distinctive red leg coloration.
Pseudosphex
Pseudosphex is a genus of tiger moths (subfamily Arctiinae, family Erebidae) established by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus comprises species that exhibit exceptional mimicry of stinging Hymenoptera, particularly wasps. These moths display near-perfect morphological and behavioral convergence with their models, including wasp-waisted bodies, yellow-black coloration, transparent wings held folded at rest, and wasp-like antennae. Recent research proposes that this precise mimicry may serve not only to deter vertebrate predators but also to avoid predation by the wasps themselves, which may fail to recognize the moths as prey due to innate conspecific recognition mechanisms.
Ptecticus
soldier flies
Ptecticus is a large genus of soldier flies (Stratiomyidae: Sarginae) comprising at least 150 described species worldwide, with roughly 40 species documented from the Old World alone as of 2000. Adults display variable body coloration—yellow, brown, or black—with abdominal transverse stripes, dusky wings, and often translucent second abdominal segments. A well-developed inner projection on the second antennal segment characterizes most species. The genus exhibits wasp-mimicry in appearance and behavior. Larvae are broad, flat, segmented maggots found in fermenting fruit and rotting vegetal material.
Pyrgota
waved light fly, light fly
Pyrgota is a genus of flies in the family Pyrgotidae, containing approximately 10 described species. The genus is notable for its endoparasitoid lifestyle, with larvae developing inside scarab beetles (Melolonthinae). Adults are often observed in mating pairs and exhibit distinctive behaviors, including a 'French kissing' interaction during copulation. The type species, Pyrgota undata, is commonly known as the waved light fly.