Genus Spilomyia liturata
(wasp imitator)
This large fly was a real puzzle. It flew in, landed and began waving its wings in the air. My first thought was "can this be
a wasp?" It certainly looked like a wasp but I couldn't get over the waving-wing thing. © Carol Davis, 8-5-2011
Being much braver with wasps than ever before in my life, I moved in for some close-ups. when I got home this was
the shot that convinced me this must be a fly, even though the critter buzzed like a bee. © Carol Davis, 8-5-2011
I did a search for "wasps with spotted eyes" and Eric Eaton's sight came up with the exact wasp-like fly I was looking
for. Wow! What a neat insect. It's one of the best wasp imitators I've ever come across.
By the way, There is a very good description in a paragraph from The Birder's Bug Book regarding the act of
"wing-wagging" (what the author calls it) in the Spilomyia syrphid fly and why they do it. © Carol Davis, 8-5-2011
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