July 4, 2026

With the look of something that you might think is not a good insect to have nearby, this is the Tiger Bee Fly (Xenox tigrinus). But it is a highly beneficial insect to have around.

Its size can be intimidating at .43 to 1.75 inches in length and a wingspan that sometimes reaches 2 inches across, but it does not bite or sting. As an adult it only consumes nectar and pollen of mid-to-late summer flowers, which include among others, elderberry, coneflowers and asters.

But the thing that stands out for me, living in a cedar-sided cabin, they are a natural enemy of the Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica). The female of the Tiger Bee Fly lays her eggs near the entrances of Eastern Carpenter Bee tunnels. The hatched fly larvae eat the Carpenter Bee larvae. Therefore, a natural pest control.

Thank you for your protection Tiger Bee Fly.

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