Bumblebee-Mimic Robber Fly
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DIN057
 Bumblebee-Mimic Robber Fly Photograph

2006 Photograph, Bumblebee-Mimic Robber Fly (Laphria thoracica) , Occoquan Bay NWR, Woodbridge, Virginia © 2006.

There are several species of Robber Flies that mimic bumblebees; kind of a wolf in bee's clothing.  Unsuspecting insects ignore the "harmless" bee and then get pounced on.  There may be some Mullerian-type Mimicry benefits to the Robber Fly in resembling a bumblebee, but the advantages of looking harmless to other insects is probably more important.

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Species information:  Species Laphria thoracica Fabricius, 1805 / Synonyms: Laphria alcanor Walker, 1849 / Laphria fulvithorax Fabricius, 1805

Nature Photography and Wildlife Photography by Gerry Gantt, from Marsh, Field and Forest.