Virginia Giant Hover Fly Milesia virginiensis (Drury, 1773)    Synonyms: Virginia Flower Fly, Yellowjacket Hover Fly.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Milesia   

Status:

Widespread and conspicuous, but generally uncommon in Maryland. Adults fly mostly June through October. Frequents deciduous forest openings and edges. Adults visit a variety of flowers. Larvae live in decaying heartwood of deciduous trees, including rot holes. (Skevington, 2019)

Description:

The largest flower fly (family Syrphidae) in Maryland. Said to mimic queens of the Southern Yellowjacket (Vespula squamosa); reported size is 16.5-23.6 mm (Skevington, 2019). Emits a loud buzz, possibly the only Maryland flower fly to mimic the sound as well as the appearance of a wasp or hornet. Readily identified by the large size, buzz, and distinctive orange, black, and yellow abdominal pattern.

There are 102 records in the project database.

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A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (6/21/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Calvert Co., Maryland (5/31/2021). (c) jasoneavery, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jason Avery. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Harford Co., Maryland (8/17/2021). Verified by Vassili Belov and Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/13/2012). Determined by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/6/2019). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/17/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (7/4/2013). Identified by Richard Orr. Photo by Nancy Magnusson. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Washington Co., Maryland (8/7/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (7/29/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (10/3/2014). Photo by Seth Metheny. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Caroline Co., Maryland (8/4/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (6/17/2023). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/15/2018). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Washington Co., Maryland (8/7/2009). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Calvert Co., Maryland (10/2/2001). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/18/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Talbot Co., Maryland (6/26/2020). Verified by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers/BugGuide. Photo by Erica Weick. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (6/17/2023). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (7/25/2009). Verified by Bill Dean/BugGuide. Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/13/2014). Determined by Bob Biagi and Ken Wolgemuth via BugGuide. Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Kent Co., Maryland (10/29/2023). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/12/2021). (c) Rin Wolfe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA). Photo by rinwolfe via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/6/2021). (c) jtylerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Caroline Co., Maryland (7/28/2018). Verified by Martin Hauser and Ken Wolgemuth via BugGuide. Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/14/2018). Determined by Steve Scholnick. Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Charles Co., Maryland (7/4/2020). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/14/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/24/2021). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/4/2022). (c) tjparsons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by tjparsons via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Allegany Co., Maryland (7/28/2018). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/12/2019). Verified by Jeff Brown/BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Howard Co., Maryland (6/17/2023). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Kent Co., Maryland (10/29/2023). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)

A Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/8/2020). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Virginia Giant Hover Fly in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/11/2021). (c) Dave Roberts, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dave Roberts. (MBP list)


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