About Brachypalpus alopex (Osten Sacken, 1877)
Brachypalpus alopex, commonly called the bumblebee catkin fly, is an uncommon species of syrphid fly. It was first officially described by Osten Sacken in 1877. Hoverflies, the common name for the family this species belongs to, get their name from their ability to stay nearly motionless while in flight. Adult hoverflies are also called flower flies, because they are commonly found around and on flowers, from which they get both energy-giving nectar and protein-rich pollen. The larvae of this species are the rat-tailed type, and feed on decaying sap under tree bark. This is a Nearctic species that has been found along the coast in Western North America.
