Orangeback Pterallastes thoracicus Loew, 1863    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Syrphidae   >   Genus Pterallastes   

Status:

Uncommon. Flies mostly May to October. Has been found in hardwood forests and has been noted "hilltopping." Larvae are unknown.

Description:

Large, measuring 10.7-13.2 mm. One of several flower fly (family Syrphidae) bumble bee mimics. The only member of its genus in the Western Hemisphere. "Similar to Brachypalpus but may be recognized by differences in wing venation, the blacker abdomen, and more densely pollinose thorax." (Skevington, 2019)

There are 22 records in the project database.

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An Orangeback in Howard Co., Maryland (6/16/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/12/2019). Determined by Kelsey J.R.P. Byers and Ken Wolgemuth via BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Howard Co., Maryland (6/2/2023). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/4/2017). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/2/2021). (c) Douglas Hooper, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Douglas Hooper via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Howard Co., Maryland (6/2/2023). (c) bugologist2, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by bugologist2 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

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

An Orangeback in Cecil Co., Maryland (9/6/2022). (c) Jonathan Irons, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jonathan Irons. (MBP list)

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

An Orangeback in Prince George's Co., Maryland (5/13/2020). (c) Carrie Seltzer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Carrie Seltzer via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2022). (c) pmhabicht, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by pmhabicht via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/16/2022). (c) pmhabicht, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by pmhabicht via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

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

A male Orangeback in Baltimore Co., Maryland (6/4/2017). Verified by Ken Wolgemuth/BugGuide. Photo by Pauline Horn. (MBP list)

An Orangeback in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/16/2019). (c) Benjamin Burgunder, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Benjamin Burgunder via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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