# 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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 10 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Tiger Bee Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tiger_Bee_Fly_-_Xenox_tigrinus_%2846471853631%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Christina Butler from Georgia, United States, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tiger_Bee_Fly_-_Xenox_tigrinus_%2846471853631%29.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Bombyliidae - **Genus:** Xenox ## 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 - **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. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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 - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## 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 ### How to identify Tiger Bee Fly? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Columbia Historic District I](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-historic-district-i) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Inman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inman-park) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/magnolia-plantation-and-gardens-charleston-south-carolina) — South Carolina, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Tiger Bee Fly](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tiger-bee-fly) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Tiger Bee Fly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger-bee-fly)