Bugging You From San Juan Island

This amazing little creature is a Tiger Fly in the genus Coenosia, and I believe C. tigrina. Photographed on May 30, 2021 with prey that appears to be a spittlebug nymph.

This particular tiger fly is a European native, introduced to North America in the 1800’s. It is now found throughout the northeastern and western United States and adjacent Canada.

Tiger flies, also sometimes known as hunter or killer flies, are indeed fantastic predators of other pest insects, including Drosophila sp. flies. Even the larval stage of this fly is predatory on other organisms. Because of their success in hunting, they are often used as biological control of pests in greenhouses.

References

https://bugguide.net/node/view/518144

https://diptera.info/articles.php?article_id=17

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259422430_Biology_of_the_predatory_fly_Coenosia_tigrina_Fab_Diptera_Anthomyiidae_reproduction_development_and_larval_feeding_on_earthworms_in_the_laboratory