David Element
Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
___________________________________________________________Flies
56 – Greater or Dark-edged Bee-flies
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m)
GREATER
BEE-FLY Bombylius major (m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (m, f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f, m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f, m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f, m)
GREATER
BEE-FLY Bombylius major (f, m)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER BEE-FLY Bombylius
major (f)
GREATER
BEE-FLY Bombylius major (f)
·
The Greater or Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major is the commonest and most
widespread British member of a distinctive family of ectoparasitoids,
in this case targeting the larvae of solitary bees belonging to the large genus
Andrena that fly early in the year. The long, stiff proboscis is
used to feed on the nectar of a miscellany of flowers, and these flies
are most likely to be encountered hovering when feeding or (in the case of the
females) whilst ovipositing, in an apparently random fashion, by projecting
their eggs close to an aggregation of solitary bee nest holes. The flies are
also often to be observed sunbathing on bare earth or on leaf-litter. Most of
the British bee-flies are comparatively uncommon (and all are harmless), but B.
major frequents gardens, where its bee-mimicry may be quite convincing.
This resemblance is, of course, designed to deter would-be predators, not
gardeners! The photographs illustrate the most obvious difference between the
sexes of many flies, as the compound eyes of males meet at the top of the head,
and those of the females are clearly separated. Recent research (Dr Erica
McAlister pers. comm.) indicates that flies can focus the ommatidia of
their compound eyes, implying a greater degree of sophistication to these
structures than was previously believed. Her books ‘The Secret Life of
Flies’ and ‘The Inside Out of Flies’ (Natural History
Museum, London) are highly recommended as they are informative,
idiosyncratic, and very entertaining!
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