Off topice - a flying thing but no bird

[Philip Veerman <>]

I don’t know the specifics but telling a (typical) fly from a (typical) bee does not need to be so difficult. Bees have four wings (two pairs of similar appearance). Flies have two wings (the rear pair of wings of flies are reduced to stubs called halteres).

 

Philip

 

From: Martin Butterfield [
Sent: Tuesday, 30 January, 2018 5:48 AM
To: Con Boekel
Cc: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Off topice - a flying thing but no bird

 

Con 

This looks somewhat like the Golden-tail Hairless Bee shown on Brisbane Insects.  I can't find out much more about this family and the key in the CSIRO tome Insects of Australia contains phrases such as "Pre-episternal groove extending well below scrobal groove..." so I am far from optimistic about refining this guess.

 

Martin 

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

 

On 29 January 2018 at 14:04, Con Boekel <> wrote:

While I was waiting for birds to come into drink at Campbell Park this insect landed on the water. After a little while it took off again. I assume that it landed on the water to have a drink. I can't recall seeing one quite like it in the ACT this last third of a century or so.

regards

Con