What is this bug?

[melbo]

Like a cross between a large fuzzy bee and a Cicada or Locust... Strangest thing I've seen at my house, I have a small video clip of it walking too, need to find it. Looks awkward, like it doesn;'t know how to control it's extremities.

Big Eyes... [slow]

[BRONZ]

Man That looks like the M1 Abrams of the fly world.

[E.L.]

Or an A-10 Wart-Bug.

[melbo]

I was afraid it was going to tear my eye out as I was snapping pictures... It moved around a little and then flew slowly away. He really looked like a mutation.

[Quigley_Sharps]

Look's like a Australia Stingless Bee, or Sugar bag??
Or could be a carpenter bee???

[Seacowboys]

Looks kinda like Magnus?

[Quigley_Sharps]

Ok I had to use dial a friend...wow :shock:
I had to send john a copy of the pics and your discription to my buddy here is his reply:


Dr. John A. Jackman
Professor and Extension Entomologist
412 Heep Center
Department of Entomology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-2475

That is a robber fly in the family Asilidae. This is a diverse family with many species. Some of them like this one mimic bumblebees. See:
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg228.html
It might bbe in the genus Laphria but there are a few other genera that are similiar.
http://insects.tamu.edu/images/insects/common/images/cd-43-c-txt/cimg229.html
I hope that this helps.
jaj

[E.L.]

Gig em