Thick-headed Conopid fly
I think this might be the thick-headed fly Physocephala tibialis, seen in Pennsylvania some summers ago.
If so, what an intriguing life cycle I learned about....these flies parasitize many different species of bees by laying their eggs inside the abdomen of their host.
The larva hatches inside of the host. It grows and develops until the host eventually dies and the larva envelopes itself in a puparium and pupates inside of the corpse.
Around 12 mm in length.
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Thick-headed Conopid fly
I think this might be the thick-headed fly Physocephala tibialis, seen in Pennsylvania some summers ago.
If so, what an intriguing life cycle I learned about....these flies parasitize many different species of bees by laying their eggs inside the abdomen of their host.
The larva hatches inside of the host. It grows and develops until the host eventually dies and the larva envelopes itself in a puparium and pupates inside of the corpse.
Around 12 mm in length.
© All rights reserved.