#bee flies – @spiralshellsreblogs on Tumblr

Jumping spider mimic bee fly, Geminaria canalis, Bombyliidae

Found in the American southwest, this species of bee fly is thought to mimic a jumping spider to deter predation. The false eyes are a modified scutellum (part of the thorax) and not real, functional eyes.

Photos 1-4 by kueda, 5 by tiwane, 6-7 by psyllidhipster, 8-9 by bryanjbd, and 10 by janepannor

theflyingpimphat

Interestingly, this exists in reverse (Abracadabrella elegans):

#buggos #bee flies #spiders #photography #ref #info #long post