SeasonalityAdults are found late July to late August and possibly earlier and later in the southern portion of the range (Schmid 1969).
IdentificationMedium to large, 15-20 mm in length. Robust flies with a general black appearance as compared to other Laphria spp. Body is mostly black, with the posterior, dorsal end of the abdomen being orange, finely pubescent (covered by hairs), and slender. Legs are black and raptorial. Laphria gilva can be distinguished by abdominal segments three, four, and five being covered dorsally with orange pubescence, and segment six being black (L. gilva can be confused with L. aimatis (McAtee), but is easily distinguished by this black sixth abdominal segment). Thoracic and leg pubescence is sparse and rather inconspicuous, and the setae of the mask and mystax (setae surrounding the pronounced hypopharynx) are uniformly black, and of medium length compared to other Laphria spp. Superior forceps of the male genitalia are each provided with two lamellar appendages (McAtee 1919; Adisoemarto 1967).