ONH

Criorhina Bumble Bee Mimics

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    1 - Criorhina nigripes on a willow catkin.

    03/09/2015 Site of the former Lake Mills, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    2 - Criorhina nigripes closeup.

    03/09/2015 Site of the former Lake Mills, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    3 - Criorhina bubulcus.

    07/05/2010 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    4 - Criorhina kincaidi.

    03/18/2015 Site of the former Lake Mills, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    5 - Criorhina kincaidi.

    03/18/2015 Site of the former Lake Mills, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    6 - Criorhina kincaidi mating pair.

    06/20/2011 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    7 - Criorhina tricolor.

    05/30/2016 Obstruction Point Road near the Cox Valley Trailhead, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    8 - Criorhina tricolor.

    05/30/2016 Obstruction Point Road near the Cox Valley Trailhead, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    9 - Criorhina tricolor on Forget-Me-Not.

    05/17/2016 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    10 - Criorhina tricolor on Forget-Me-Not.

    05/17/2016 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    11 - Criorhina tricolor on Forget-Me-Not.

    05/17/2016 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

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    12 - Criorhina tricolor taking off from Forget-Me-Not.

    05/17/2016 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, Washington

The syrphid genus Criorhina includes many large remarkable bumble bee mimics. At a distance, even a veteran insect watcher may be fooled. Viewing with butterfly binoculars or close up photos reveals the distinctive fly antennae and, possibly, only one pair of wings.

Photos 2, 3 and 4, especially, show the long face the genus was named for.

I have photographed four Criorhina species on the Olympic Peninsula: C. nigripes — slides 1 and 2, C. bubulcus — slide 3, C. kincaidi — slides 4, 5 and 6, and C. tricolor — slides 7 - 12.

Images identified by Kevin Moran or Kelsey J.R.P. Byers via bugguide.