Remarkable fly with a face on each end - Geminaria canalis
Here are front and back views of a remarkable Bee Fly (Bombyliidae, Diptera) that seems to have a face on each end! It's working a new flower of native (but weedy) Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora, Asteraceae) in the woods a few days ago. I believe this fly is Geminaria canalis - there's nothing else is like it. You can see its long proboscis and true eyes on the left, but what's really remarkable are the those dark "faux eyes" on its back end that reflect light just like Jumping Spider (Salticidae) eyes. I have another nice shot of the whole fly in this photo, and see this photo to appreciate its value as mimicry. These unusual flies are never common, and this the first one I've ever seen in our home canyon. HFDF! (San Marcos Pass, 5 October 2020)
Remarkable fly with a face on each end - Geminaria canalis
Here are front and back views of a remarkable Bee Fly (Bombyliidae, Diptera) that seems to have a face on each end! It's working a new flower of native (but weedy) Telegraph Weed (Heterotheca grandiflora, Asteraceae) in the woods a few days ago. I believe this fly is Geminaria canalis - there's nothing else is like it. You can see its long proboscis and true eyes on the left, but what's really remarkable are the those dark "faux eyes" on its back end that reflect light just like Jumping Spider (Salticidae) eyes. I have another nice shot of the whole fly in this photo, and see this photo to appreciate its value as mimicry. These unusual flies are never common, and this the first one I've ever seen in our home canyon. HFDF! (San Marcos Pass, 5 October 2020)