Bee Flies.....(Picc Heavy)

[British Red]

As we were out in the woods today there were absolutley stacks of bee flies around. I know they are relatively uncommon and many people have seen one of the "furry humming birds" as I think of them so here are a few photos

Lovely little things

Red

 

[BorderReiver]

Very nice photographs Red.

How big are the flies?

 

[British Red]

Tiny things really - smaller than a honey bee...like a quarter of a bumble bee?

Clearly the proboscis doubles their length!

 

[andybysea]

Cant say ive ever seen those (or noticed) before, great clear close ups pics, and yep they dont half have a long proboscis. To me they look like a cross between a moth and a fly.

 

[Mang]

Nice pics. We get them round my way I think they are nice insects that probably wish they didn't have a big conk as I bet loads have their brains bashed into their butts by folk thinking it will bite.

I always think that they look like they have fur and they are a fly that think they are a bee rather than the other way round?

 

[robin wood]

I can't remember the story on these are they parasitic on bees? as in lay eggs in the bumbles nest or something?

 

[British Red]

Indded - they are parisitoidal on solitary bees (and others such butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets). They lay eggs in soil near the "host". Their larvae feed on immature members of the host species

They do genuinely hover like humming birds and drink nectar - amazing to watch. I have found a large colony this year and hope to get a picture of hovering / nectar drinking

Lovely little things - furry indeed Mang and yes a fly not a bee!

 

[Singeblister]

I have never seen one of those in uk , I did see them on holiday once the ones people mistake for humming birds but I think they were biger than the one you have there I did try to get shots of them but always just got the flower lol

 

[smoggy]

Never seen one of those, are they only found down south?

I've seen some brightly coloured ones in Menorca which hover and feed on nectar and are quite a size for an insect, almost as large as the smallest hummingbirds!

Smoggy

 

[British Red]

All over the UK smoggy - but I have only seen them in the Southern parts. Usually I see them on heath and downland type areas - thin soil and not too wooded. The breed on ground nesting bees, grasshoppers etc. so I guess that explains why.

Red