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Champlain's Bee-like Robberfly

Laphria champlainii

Photo by Jacob Gorneau
Published on Project Noah
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42.7147, -73.8628

Field Notes

Description:

I can't seem to match a species to this member of the Laphria genus. Laphria gross was the closest I could find, but it wasn't consistent with the golden abdomen, whereas the thorax and facial hairs were pale yellow.

Habitat:

Found at some undergrowth in the sandy pine barrens at Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

Notes:

Lifer!

Species ID Suggestions

bee-like robber fly

Laphria champlainii

Reference Link
hudwit
1

Comments (13)
Jacob Gorneau
Thank you so much, hudwit, for the excellent match! Feel free to suggest an ID for your work! :-)
hudwit
I think this is a worn female Laphria champlainii based on the distribution on yellow on the abdomen and the legs. I think it's lost a lot of hair on the sides of the thorax and the legs.
Jacob Gorneau
Thank you, Dilan, Lauren, and Emilie! Emilie, that species is very similar, but the abdomen seems different: http://bugguide.net/node/view/33121/bgimage
EmilieChich
Looks like Laphria affinis to me; what do you think?
Jacob Gorneau
L. astur is unfortunately only recorded from western North America at this time.
Jacob Gorneau
Wow! That looks very similar, especially in the first link! I will look closer; thanks Dixie!
Dixie
Laphria astur? I was checking them out on: http://www.covillephotos.net/galleries/GalleryBuilderv2.php?type=Diptera&key=Laphria_astur&lvl=G&pgno=1 and http://www.greglasley.net/nonBirds/laphriaastur.html. What do you think?
Dixie
Emily is right! Great detail.
EmilyUmbarger
Neat spotting and a great pic! Wow, such wonderful detail with that camera!

Spotted for Missions

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Flies of Northeastern US
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Wildlife of Northeastern USA
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New England Arthropods
Photographed
PublishedAugust 20, 2013

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