Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid vs California Web Spinner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid California Web Spinner
Scientific Name Jurinia frontalis Oligotoma moestum
Order Diptera Embioptera
Family Tachinidae Oligotomidae
Size 14-18 mm 7.0-10.0 mm
Habitat Mountains Gardens
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia North America, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Bumblebee-mimicking Tachinid

A large, furry tachinid fly that closely mimics a bumblebee with its dense covering of orange and black hairs. It is one of the hairiest of all tachinid flies.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most tachinids that parasitize caterpillars, this species targets wood-boring beetle larvae.

California Web Spinner

A small introduced web spinner now established in California and other warm parts of the United States. It is commonly found in gardens and around buildings.

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Did You Know?

This species was accidentally introduced to the Americas and is now one of the few web spinners most North Americans ever encounter.