erebia
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Post by erebia on Aug 30, 2018 9:36:10 GMT -8
Here in the western U.S. during late summer we see many syrphids visiting flowers. A couple of our native species somewhat resemble honey bees in appearance but they are not convincing mimics. I'm wondering if there exists a Dipteran in Europe, from any family, that is a really good impostor of the the European honey bee. Thanks.
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Post by nomihoudai on Aug 30, 2018 9:47:34 GMT -8
Check out Eristalis tenax.
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erebia
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Post by erebia on Aug 30, 2018 10:07:21 GMT -8
Thanks for the link. I didn't realize that this species of fly was introduced into North America. It is common here and I see it frequently. To me it does in fact look like a drone honey bee but not really a worker, which of course is the stinging form. However, it's appearance must be close enough that it is an effective mimic and further evolution isn't necessary at this time. Thanks again.
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Post by nomad on Sept 12, 2018 7:07:43 GMT -8
The Syrphid Mallota cimbiciformis mimics honey bees, especially in flight, however it is very rare and very elusive, usually staying up it is thought in the canopy. The male shown below was leaving privet flowers at my approach in June, England.  Another honey bee mimic is the hoverfly Criorhina asilica, it is a local species of ancient woodlands, the male below was photographed in June, England.  |
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erebia
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Post by erebia on Sept 13, 2018 13:55:09 GMT -8
Thanks Nomad for posting those pictures! Both of those species are very convincing mimics of honey bees. I'd love to see M. cimbiciformis in flight - thanks again.
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memo
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Post by memo on Nov 14, 2018 14:22:26 GMT -8
Hello, why is/should a fly mimicing a honey bee?
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Post by Paul K on Nov 14, 2018 14:56:05 GMT -8
Hello, why is/should a fly mimicing a honey bee? Not to be end up in bird stomach or smashed by human’s fly flap 😜😄 |
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 15, 2018 6:43:40 GMT -8
I may be wrong, the Honey Bee is not native to North America. It was brought to North America by European settlers.
I designed a virtical bee hive 10 years ago, worked rather well. Learned more about bees than I thought possible. However, never looked unto there origins.
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memo
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Post by memo on Nov 17, 2018 13:14:18 GMT -8
Hello, why is/should a fly mimicing a honey bee? Not to be end up in bird stomach or smashed by human’s fly flap 😜😄 So why don't doing that other species of flies, that always end up in bird/frog etc. stomachs or smached bay humans flap  |
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Post by Paul K on Nov 17, 2018 17:24:47 GMT -8
Not to be end up in bird stomach or smashed by human’s fly flap 😜😄 So why don't doing that other species of flies, that always end up in bird/frog etc. stomachs or smached bay humans flap Millions of years of natural selection. The species they are mimicking poisonous species their reproducing cicle is longer or food source is limited so they have to find the way to survive by limitation of casualties. Those they don’t mimic are reproducing in huge number so even if thousends of those are become food or victim of human’s fly flap they are still fine. Each living species is finding its own way to survive and continue the existence. |
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 17, 2018 18:00:12 GMT -8
I ask the question, are honey bee native to North America?
I Googled: Are Honey Bees native to North American?
Native bees are an unappreciated treasure, with 4,000 species from tiny Perdita to large carpenter bees, they can be found anywhere in North America where flowers bloom. Most people don't realize that there were no honey bees in America until the white settlers brought hives from Europe.
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As much as some of you think otherwise, including my Charming Wife, I do not know everything, almost, but not everything!
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