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Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria

laphria thoracica

The Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria is a fascinating insect with a bright yellow back! It loves to buzz around flowers and is often seen darting through gardens.

Habitat: They can be found in gardens, meadows, and open fields.

Appearance

The Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria is a large, fuzzy insect that remarkably mimics a bumblebee. It has a robust black body with a distinctive, thick yellow band across its thorax, giving it a 'yellow-backed' appearance. Its black wings are clear.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyAsilidaeGenusLaphria
Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria
solitary trait badgecolorful trait badgecarnivorous trait badgediurnal trait badge
Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

8

Interesting facts

Their larvae live in rotting wood and eat other insect larvae underground.

These incredible fliers can hover perfectly still, just like a tiny helicopter.

They have super-sharp vision, helping them spot tiny prey from far away.

They're sometimes called "assassin flies" for their amazing hunting skills!

Special abilities

Ability

Mimic Master

Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria has furry yellow and black markings that help them mimic stinging bumblebees, scaring off potential predators.

Ability

Swift Hunter

Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria can quickly ambush flying insects because of their powerful wings and excellent eyesight, catching prey mid-air.

Ability

Venomous Bite

Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria can inject paralyzing venom into their prey using a tough proboscis, quickly subduing other insects.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
30-50 mm
Size
15-25 mm
Lifespan
21-28 days
Flight Speed
15-25 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

These fierce insect hunters pounce on other flying bugs for their meals!

Age differences: Larvae hunt other insect larvae in decaying wood, while adults hunt flying insects.

Primary Foods

  • Honey bees
  • Bumblebees
  • Wasps
  • Flies
  • Beetles

Foraging Method

  • Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

A common prey item for adults.

hunts

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

Often mistaken for their mimicry target.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

A bird predator that eats large insects.

eaten by

Flower Crab Spider

Misumena vatia

Ambush predator that catches them on flowers.

Traits

Also known as

LaphriaYellow-Backed Bee Fly

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria?

The easiest way to identify Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria's wingspan?

30-50 mm

How big is Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria?

15-25 mm

How long does Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria live?

21-28 days

How fast can Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria fly?

15-25 km/h

What does Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria eat?

These fierce insect hunters pounce on other flying bugs for their meals!

Where is Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria usually found?

They can be found in gardens, meadows, and open fields.

How does Eastern Yellow-Backed Laphria hunt?

Ambush

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