DipteraDiptera Index Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Balaana Beefly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Fly (Anthrax) Australiphthiria Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)
The genus Balaana, from the family Bombyliidae, are a group of flies known commonly as “Bee flies”, and in this instance the Balaana Beefly. At time of writing, there are seven described species in this genus Balaana. They have a body length of between 10-18 mm.
The bee fly pictured here is the species Balaana abscondita, similar to the species Balaana gigantea.
These bee flies are dark brown to black in colour. The black-patterned wings help to identify them. Also identified by the the broad white scale band, and extensions on the apical margin of the band.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Diptera
- Family: Bombyliidae
- Subfamily: Anthracinae
- Tribe: Exoprosopini
- Genus: Balaana
- Species: Balaana abscondita
Footnote & References
- Balaana abscondita, iNaturalistAU – Many thanks to chris-lambkin from the iNaturalistAU community for ID confirmation and additional info, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/103519835
- Gigantea Beefly II – Balaana abscondita, https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robbers/BalaanaBeefly2.htm
- Balaana, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaana (last visited Dec. 23, 2021)
- Bee-fly (Balaana gigantea), Bushpea.com – Birds, Books & Other Stuff, http://bushpea.com/in/pg/all/b/bee-fly%20(balaana%20gigantea)%2001.html
DipteraDiptera Index Flies Pollinators and Flies The Eyes of Flies Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) Australian Drain Fly Balaana Beefly Bat Flies Bee Flies Bee Fly (Anthrax) Australiphthiria Ligyra Neosardus cosmus Chrysomya saffranea Clogmia (Moth Fly) Eristalinus punctulatus Musca Odontomyia (Soldier Flies) Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly) Robber Flies Sarcophaga aurifrons Soldier Fly Syrphidae Syrphids Common Halfband (Melangyna viridiceps) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly (Simosyrphus grandicornis)
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub