Global InformationApocephalus borealis information
| Apocephalus borealis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Adult female A. borealis with visible ovipositor alongside grains of sugar for size comparison | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Phoridae |
| Genus: | Apocephalus |
| Species: | A. borealis
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| Binomial name | |
| Apocephalus borealis Brues, 1924
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Apocephalus borealis is a species of North American parasitoid phorid fly that attacks bumblebees, honey bees, and paper wasps. This parasitoid's genus Apocephalus is best known for the "decapitating flies" that attack a variety of ant species, though A. borealis attacks and alters the behavior of bees and wasps.[1] These flies are colloquially known as zombie flies and the bees they infect are colloquially known as zombees.[2] Association with honey bees has so far only been documented from California, South Dakota, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Vancouver Island), and Vermont.[3][4]
- ^ Core, Andrew; Runcke, Charles; Ivers, Jonathan; Quock, Christopher; Siapno, Travis; DeNault, Seraphina; Brown, Brian; DeRisi, Joseph; Smith, Christopher D.; Hafernik, John (2012). "A new threat to honey bees, the parasitic phorid fly Apocephalus borealis". PLoS ONE. 7 (1): e29639. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...729639C. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029639. PMC 3250467. PMID 22235317.
- ^ Kayla Figard (August 2, 2012). "Seeking Zombee Hunters". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 12.
- ^ Ben Gittleson (January 30, 2014). "'Zombie' Bees Surface in the Northeast". ABC News.
- ^ Sandi Doughton (September 26, 2012). "Start's first case of 'zombie bees' found in Kent". The Seattle Times.