Eastern Hornet Fly Spilomyia longicornis Loew, 1872    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Spilomyia   

Status:

Uncommon, but the most frequently encountered member of the genus in Maryland. In Maryland this species seems to fly primarily August to October. Has been recorded in hardwood forests, power line cuts, and hilltops. Larvae are found in rot holes in deciduous trees.

Description:

Large, measuring 12.4-16.2 mm (Skevington, 2019). Beautiful flower fly with distinctive patterned eyes. Some other members of the genus are similar, including Spilomyia alcimus, but that species has wider yellow than black bands, among other differences. S. alcimus also flies earlier in the year.

There are 65 records in the project database.

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A female Eastern Hornet Fly in Carroll Co., Maryland (9/21/2017). Verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Washington Co., Maryland (9/4/2021). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/15/2018). Determined by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/27/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/6/2022). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/5/2007). Determined by Eric R. Eaton/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/26/2014). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/31/2014). Verified by Kevin Moran/BugGuide. Photo by John Dennehy. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/4/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/19/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (10/3/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/24/2022). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Dorchester Co., Maryland (10/18/2014). Verified by Kevin Moran/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2014). Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/30/2015). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/24/2022). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/27/2020). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/2/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/18/2013). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/30/2015). Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Josh Emm, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

An Eastern Hornet Fly in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/2/2013). Verified by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)


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