Our insect of the week for June 16, 2025 is the yellowjacket hover fly – Milesia virginiensis (Drury, 1773) [DIPTERA: Syrphidae]. This species is native to central Illinois. Adults are found mid-summer until early autumn.

As the name implies, adults are harmless mimics of yellowjackets. [Batesian mimicry]. You can tell these are flies due to a single pair of wings and large compound eyes.

The specimen in the photographs was collected by our former member, Gordon Adams, in September, 1974 (Peoria Co., IL). This photograph results from stacking over 200 individual photos together.