No Common Name Laphria thoracica Fabricius, 1805    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Diptera   >   Family Asilidae   >   Genus Laphria   

Status:

Laphria thoracica is one of the most common species of Laphria in this region. L. thoracica is quite widespread in deciduous forests, and can often be located haunting sunlit vegetation and edge habitats from mid-May to August. Territorial males wait for females on low plants near large rotting hardwood logs on the forest floor. The abdomen color varies from completely black to fully-banded with yellow on the base of the abdomen, with many intermediates between the two extremes. The different forms are likely mimetic of different species of Bombus, and the prevalence of a given form seems to vary regionally. This is one of the best bee mimics in the genus.

There are 63 records in the project database.

View images at BugGuide

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BC HACE PG AA CVCH SMKE QA CNTADOWISOWO 
A Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/18/2017). Determined by Ben Coulter/BugGuide. Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Laphria thoracica in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/13/2018). Photo by Robert Warren. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/26/2015). Verified by Ben Coulter/BugGuide. Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Mating Laphria thoracica in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/14/2014). Determined by Herschel Raney/BugGuide. Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/21/2015). Photo by Steve Scholnick. (MBP list)

A Laphria thoracica in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/23/2013). Collected by Tim McMahon and photographed by Wayne Boo. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Washington Co., Maryland (7/5/2021). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A female Laphria thoracica in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/14/2008). Verified by Herschel Raney/BugGuide. Photo by Stephen Schueman. (MBP list)

A Laphria thoracica in Carroll Co., Maryland (7/23/2013). Collected by Tim McMahon and photographed by Wayne Boo. Photo by USGS PWRC. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/13/2020). (c) Nathaniel Schwartz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Nathaniel Schwartz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Washington Co., Maryland (6/1/2019). (c) Frode Jacobsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Frode Jacobsen via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). (c) romainclem, all rights reserved. Photo by romainclem via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A female Laphria thoracica in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/14/2008). Verified by Herschel Raney/BugGuide. Photo by Stephen Schueman. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Charles Co., Maryland (5/31/2015). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). (c) Jane Hartman, all rights reserved. Photo by Jane Hartman. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica with prey in Baltimore City, Maryland (5/13/2009). Determined by Herschel Raney/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica with prey in Baltimore City, Maryland (5/29/2015). Verified by Ben Coulter/BugGuide. Photo by Thomas Wilson. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/6/2020). (c) Jane Hartman, all rights reserved. Photo by Jane Hartman. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/28/2020). (c) spyingnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by spyingnaturalist via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Prince George's Co., Maryland (6/28/2020). (c) spyingnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by spyingnaturalist via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Frederick Co., Maryland (7/3/2022). (c) Robert Warren, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND). Photo by Robert Warren. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Washington Co., Maryland (5/27/2021). (c) Emilio Concari, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Emilio Concari. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/17/2021). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/17/2021). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Montgomery Co., Maryland (5/17/2021). (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Katja Schulz via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Kent Co., Maryland (6/6/2021). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Kent Co., Maryland (6/6/2021). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)

Laphria thoracica in Kent Co., Maryland (6/6/2021). (c) pcowartrickmanphoto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Pamela Cowart-Rickman. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

View Bibliography