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30 June 2009

Mystery solved

KellyRae was first to guess a bumblebee mimic and Jena narrowed it down. It is, indeed, a robber fly. I'm thinking it's a Southern Bee Killer, Mallophora orcina. According to Entomology Circular No. 366, 1994, honeybees make up 80% or more of its diet.

Knowing this puts me in a dilemna. I find myself kinda wanting to mash the next one I see, but I reckon I won't be able to bring myself to do that. After all, he's just doing what comes naturally. And if the honeybees weren't in such dire straits, I'd not give it a second thought. Maybe I should take a poll. Should I swat or live and let live?

7 comments:

R.Powers said...

Well, of course! I forgot about those.

Don't swat him. I doubt if his lifespan is long enough to do much damage to even a stressed honey bee pop.

KellyRae said...

What a cool robber fly! I agree with FC, live and let live. :)

SophieMae said...

FC, that's just what I was thinking... how many could he eat?

KellyRae, they are pretty cool critters, aren't they?

Island Rider said...

I say, squash the people who's poor choices have endangered the honeybee!

Aunty Belle said...

Huh? Wow--never knowed of this critter--amazin'!

(An' Sophie Mae, thanky so so much fer you an Duller's dear prayers--Granny is makin' good progress!! Why, she even be's a mite feisty these days.)

Unknown said...

why not add Margorie Kennan Rawlings books on Cross Creek and Cross Creek Cookery?

Cross Creek is a few miles south of Gainesville

henry wildfire

Shalini said...

Man, I followed that the dark truth link, and was completely in the story. Damn exciting. The latest post talks about a friend of him who's gone missing . Somewhere on his way to Leh, India. And the guy is asking for help find it. Soundss like an online game . This looks interesting. M already hooked on.

Hey, btw, nice post you have there - keep rocking - ;)