This is an Anthrax-fly that was on my puppy ramp in my backyard in Amherst, Virginia, USA. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was when I was taking the picture. I originally thought it was a horse fly but have since found out that is not.
Taken with my Canon Powershot SX110 IS on a macro setting.
FEATURED IN THE WORLD AS WE SEE IT
Anthrax is a genus of bombyliid flies, commonly known as “bee-flies” due to their resemblance to bees. Most are dull black flies, and are usually small to medium in size, 0.2–0.8 inches, and many species have striking wing patterns.
Anthrax is a very large genus. While worldwide in distribution, most species are from the Palaearctic and Afrotropic regions. The genus includes species parasitic on tiger beetles – an unusual trait among the bee-flies. Anthrax larvae parasitize bees. Many North American species parasitize solitary wasps.