Our insect of the week for June 23, 2025 is the bee fly – Exoprosopa butleri Johnson & Johnson, 1959 [DIPTERA: Bombyliidae]. This species is native to central Illinois. Adults are found throughout the summer months.
Although aduls feed on nectar and pollen (and some are important pollinators), many larvae are parasitoids of other insects. However, the life cycles of many species are very poorly known. Yet another potential research project for a budding entomologist in central Illinois.
The specimen in the photographs was collected by our former member, Gordon Adams, in July, 1961 (Peoria Co., IL). This photograph results from stacking over 200 individual photos together.
