Invertebrates
Bee-fly
Bombylius major · also called dark-edged bee-fly
On a sunny March morning, a bee-fly hovers in front of a primrose, its long snout held out like a lance and its dark-edged wings a blur.
Overview
The bee-fly, Bombylius major, is a Not Evaluated fly of gardens, meadows, and woodland edges across Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, and in parts of North America. Its furry, bee-like look, hovering feeding, and parasitic larvae make it one of the most distinctive insects of early spring.
A fly that fools the eye
The bee-fly looks so much like a small bumblebee that people often avoid it, but it is harmless, and its long snout and hovering flight are the clues that give it away.
Status
Not Evaluated globally, though widespread and common.
Bee-fly: common questions
Is the bee-fly a bee?
No, it is a fly with only one pair of wings, which looks like a small bumblebee, and it has no sting.
Why does the bee-fly have a long snout?
It uses its long, rigid, needle-like proboscis to reach nectar in flowers while hovering, without landing.
What do bee-fly larvae eat?
They enter the nests of mining bees and eat the bee grubs and their food stores.
Where is the bee-fly found?
It lives in gardens, meadows, and woodland edges across Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia, and in parts of North America.