Knowledgebase
Carpenter bee? #759341
Asked June 30, 2021, 4:04 PM EDT
Coos County Oregon
Expert Response
No, the insect in the image is not a bee. It is a fly.
The 2 main clues to identify flies are the short antennae in the center of the face, and the very large eyes. And, if you're able to count the wings, flies have only one pair, whereas bees have 2 pairs.
Hope I’m not “bugging” you, Jean!
Now I’m thinking the insect in question is this:
Giant black fly - Cuterebrinae? - Cuterebra tenebrosa -
https://bugguide.net/node/view/339988
Do you concur?
M
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Marty Giles (she/her) <personal data hidden>
Wavecrest Discoveries
“mind-refreshing” guided nature tours
www.facebook.com/WavecrestDiscoveries
phone: 541/267-4027
text: <personal data hidden>
P.O. Box 1795
Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
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From: <personal data hidden> <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 2:26 PM
To: 'Ask Extension' <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: follow-up question: Carpenter bee? (#0029272)
Thanks so much, Jean!
(That was actually my first guess…)
Do you know what kind of fly it is? (To me, the eyes looked too small to be a horsefly—though I confess I didn’t want it on me!)
M
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marty Giles (she/her) <personal data hidden>
Wavecrest Discoveries
“mind-refreshing” guided nature tours
www.facebook.com/WavecrestDiscoveries
phone: 541/267-4027
text: <personal data hidden>
P.O. Box 1795
Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2021 1:32 PM
To: Marty Giles <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Carpenter bee? (#0029272)
You're a good researcher and, due to your signature, I understand why. Bugguide certainly has thorough article about the genus.
When I double-checked your image, I realized the fly had already laid numerous eggs.
Thank you for the feedback.
