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Tiger Bee Fly

Xenox tigrinus

The Tiger Bee Fly is a special insect that looks like a fuzzy bee! It has stripes like a tiger and loves to buzz around flowers, helping them grow by spreading pollen.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Tiger Bee Fly is a robust, fuzzy fly with a chunky, dark brown to black body covered in dense yellow and black stripes, making it look much like a bumblebee. Its wings are dark-tinted with black blotches, adding to its distinctive, bee-like appearance.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyBombyliidaeGenusXenox
Tiger Bee Fly
furry trait badgestriped trait badgesocial trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Tiger Bee Fly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Baby Tiger Bee Flies spend their early life hidden away, feasting on beetle grubs!

Even though it looks like a bee, it can't sting! It's totally harmless to people.

They have extra-large eyes that help them spot flowers and find mates while flying fast.

Tiger Bee Flies are famous for flying like helicopters, staying perfectly still in the air!

Special abilities

Ability

Grub Hunter

Tiger Bee Fly can lay its eggs directly into the tunnels of wood-boring beetle larvae, so its young have a ready-made meal.

Ability

Aerial Acrobat

Tiger Bee Fly has excellent hovering flight abilities that help it expertly maneuver around flowers to feed on nectar.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-30 mm
Size
10-15 mm
Lifespan
20-40 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults drink flower nectar, while their larvae are sneaky parasites that eat beetle grubs!

Age differences: Larvae are parasitic insectivores, while adults primarily feed on nectar and pollen.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen
  • Wood-boring beetle larvae

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Locust Borer

Megacyllene robiniae

Its larvae grow by eating the beetle's grubs.

pollinates

Common Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Adult flies visit flowers to drink nectar and spread pollen.

eaten by

European Garden Spider

Araneus diadematus

Tiger Bee Flies can be caught in spider webs as prey.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Tiger Bee Flies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tiger Bee Fly's wingspan?

20-30 mm

How big is Tiger Bee Fly?

10-15 mm

How long does Tiger Bee Fly live?

20-40 days

What does Tiger Bee Fly eat?

Adults drink flower nectar, while their larvae are sneaky parasites that eat beetle grubs!

Where is Tiger Bee Fly usually found?

Urban areas

How many legs does Tiger Bee Fly have?

6

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