Bee fly (anthrax irroratus) - July 23, 2013
The latin term "irroratus" meaning to "besprinkle, water" or "wet with dew" perhaps depicting the pattern of the wings.
According to Kaufman Field Guide to North American Insects, most species are parasites of solitary wasps that build mud nests! Only two or three weeks ago the kids were watering the hill to make mud for the mud daubers in search of mud for their nests. Adult bee flies can be seen hovering around potential nest sites of their hosts ... females are known as bombers for their practice of lobbing eggs down the tunnel or cavity of a host nest while hovering in front of it. Both sexes may hover around people also, even alighting on them - which is what happened to Chris and why he killed the one we saw :s - but they are harmless.
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