Scaly Bee Fly (Lepidophors lepidocera)Collage

Here... it was feeding on False Sunflowers !!

A "first" for my garden that I have seen

ID Thanks to Ross Hill (Bugguide.net)

Identification

Hunch-backed shape is shared with L. lutea. In L. lepidocera, the pale scales are white or pale yellow, and usually no pale scales are evident on the fourth abdominal segment. Also note fringe at end of abdomen.

May be a mimic of Robber-flies and/or bumblebees.

Range

Includes eastern US (FL, GA, IA, LA, MO, NC, OH, OK, SC, TX - and probably intervening/adjacent states)

Habitat

Old fields, adjacent to deciduous woodlands.

Season

Late summer-fall? Into November in Piedmont, North Carolina. Brimley (2) lists the species for August-September in the mountains of that state. Insects of Cedar Creek, Minnesota reports flight of this genus in July and August.

Food

Adults are seen on flowers, presumably taking nectar. Insects of Cedar Creek reports they like to visit a Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum). Another reference from Minnesota lists Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) as a nectar source. Seen on goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and Bushy Aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) in the Piedmont of North Carolina.