Large Bee-fly
Bombylius major
Large bee-flies are fuzzy, bee-mimicking flies found in sunny woodland edges, gardens, meadows, and sandy banks. Adults hover at flowers and feed on nectar with a long, straight proboscis, often holding their bodies in place like tiny hummingbirds. Females flick eggs toward the nests of solitary bees and wasps, where the larvae later develop as parasitoids. Despite the bee-like appearance, adults do not sting and rely on mimicry and quick flight for protection.
- Type
- Wing
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Large Bee-fly