09.01.2020 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Harry was a fly

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Steve Gingold

If you were expecting a bear, sorry to disappoint.  But if you thought it was a fly, well a fly I can do. Another Tachinid Fly actually.

Last night to end the month I went out in the yard and found this cool hairy fly.

Tomato Bristle Fly-Hystricia abrupta. Lots of hairy creepy insects lately.  Maybe a butterfly will visit our late summer flowers one of these days. These Tachinidae eat the larvae of some Tiger Moths which is too bad as they are quite attractive. One might think they ate tomatoes but I guess they just look like one.

About Steve Gingold

I am a Nature Photographer with interests in all things related. Water, flowers, insects and fungi are my main interests but I am happy to photograph wildlife and landscapes and all other of Nature's subjects.
This entry was posted in Amherst, Closeup Photography, Insect Behavior, Insects, macro photography, Nature Photography, Western Massachusetts and tagged , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

24 Responses to 09.01.2020 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Harry was a fly

  1. bluebrightly says:
    September 1, 2020 at 7:22 pm

    Well, it doesn’t look like any of the tomatoes I eat! But what a cool fly, really interesting. Thanks for always being on the lookout, Steve.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. Steve Schwartzman says:
    September 1, 2020 at 7:44 pm

    Your fly reminded me of this:

    “She asks me why
    I’m just a hairy guy.
    I’m hairy noon and night,
    Hair that’s a fright.
    I’m hairy high and low,
    Don’t ask me why,
    Don’t know.
    It’s not for lack of bread
    Like the Grateful Dead,
    Darling.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Peter Hillman says:
    September 2, 2020 at 11:40 am

    That is one fuzzy wuzzy fly you have there, Steve! Great shot!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Ann Mackay says:
    September 2, 2020 at 3:28 pm

    That is one hairy fly, hehe! Now you will have flies, as well as frogs lining up to have their portraits taken…could be chaos if it’s the same queue!

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. krikitarts says:
    September 2, 2020 at 8:16 pm

    This is really a strange one, for sure. It looks like there was some hedgehog blood somewhere back in its ancestry (or maybe sea urchin, except that they don’t have blood).

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  6. Todd Henson says:
    September 3, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    So many different fly’s out there, each with their own unique looks. I wonder if all the hair makes them a little less appetizing to some predator. Who like the feel of lots of bristly hair in their mouth? 🙂

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    • Steve Gingold says:
      September 6, 2020 at 4:12 am

      I would think they would be a bit scratchy on the way down. Maybe those hairs help with pollination as they go from flower to flower. I don’t know if they are species specific as they gather pollen while feeding on the nectar.

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  7. melissabluefineart says:
    October 13, 2020 at 8:34 am

    Good Lord, just look at all those hairs! I can’t believe that. I shall look at flies with even more suspicion from now on!

    Liked by 1 person

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  8. melissabluefineart says:
    October 17, 2020 at 9:48 am

    You mean, like RBG? 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. margaret21 says:
    August 7, 2023 at 3:13 am

    This is rather a handsome creature. Great photo.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. Denzil says:
    August 7, 2023 at 8:50 am

    Well I couldn’t have named it any better!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Pingback: Your photos of flies – Denzil Nature

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