Xenox tigrinus explained

The tiger bee fly, Xenox tigrinus, is an insect of the family Bombyliidae (bee flies) found in the eastern United States and southern Ontario.^[1] It formerly went by the name Anthrax tigrinus.^[2] The distinctive wing pattern may resemble tiger stripes, giving the tiger bee fly its name. Like other members of the bee fly family, the tiger bee fly parasitizes the larvae of other insects.

Identification

Adults range from 11mm19mm in length, excluding wings and other appendages including antennae and legs.^[3] Their black body has two white spots on the abdomen and their transparent wings have a distinctive black pattern. The tiger bee fly may be mistaken for a large bee due to its coloration and size. Their bee mimicry (an example of Batesian mimicry) helps them avoid potential predators.^[4]

Life cycle

Female tiger bee flies deposit fertilized eggs in carpenter bee nests. Rather than entering the nest itself, female tiger flies lay eggs near the nest entrance. When the larvae hatch, they consume the carpenter bee larvae. The fly larvae may also wait for the bees to enter the vulnerable pupal state before eating them.^[5] The tiger bee fly is the most common parasite of the eastern carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica.^[6] It is also considered a pollinator.^[7]

Interactions with humans

The tiger bee fly is commonly found near wooden fences and structures where carpenter bees make their nests. They do not bite or sting humans.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Ávalos-Hernández. Omar. Kits. Joel. Trujano-Ortega. Marysol. García-Vázquez. Uri. Cano-Santana. Zenon. 2014-03-07. New records of bee flies (Diptera, Bombyliidae) from Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, Mexico. ZooKeys. en. 422 . 49–85. 10.3897/zookeys.422.7598 . 25061389 . 4109446. 1313-2970. free. 2014ZooK..422...49A .
2. Prager. Sean M.. 2014-12-01. Comparison of social and solitary nesting carpenter bees in sympatry reveals no advantage to social nesting. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. en. 113. 4. 998–1010. 10.1111/bij.12395. 0024-4066.
3. Web site: Tiger Bee Fly. 2020-08-04. www.insectidentification.org. en-US.
4. Web site: Tiger Bee Fly. 2020-08-04. MDC Discover Nature. en.
5. Web site: Feinstein. Julie. The Carpenter Bee and the Tiger Bee Fly. 2020-08-04. en.
6. Prager. Sean M.. Hunter. Fiona F.. 2011-03-12. Relationships between nest architecture and behavior in Xylocopa virginica (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Insect Behavior. 24. 4. 293–306. 10.1007/s10905-011-9256-x. 2011JIBeh..24..293P . 24787524 . 0892-7553.
7. Cusser. Sarah. 2016. Understanding land-use drivers of pollinator community composition in an agricultural lanscape [sic]]. 2016 International Congress of Entomology. Entomological Society of America. 10.1603/ice.2016.94635.
8. Web site: Field Guide: Bee Flies . Missouri Department of Conservation . 2 August 2022.