Hunchback Bee Fly

Description:

The evolutionary story of the Hunchback Bee Fly would probably sound like something from a sci-fi novel. It mimics several other insects including bees and wasp. This is insect survival-ism at it's best. Notice how it uses its legs to balance itself while it nectars on the wildflowers. Bee flies are actually an important pollinator of many flowering plants.

Habitat:

Spotted feeding on wildflowers at Mount Magazine State Park. The meadows along the roads at Mount Magazine State Park are purposely left to overgrow to provide wildflowers and habitat for the insects, birds and small animals. It's very impressive - a great place to study insects in there habitat.

Notes:

Bee flies are strong fliers that can hover and quickly dart about in all directions. Bee flies use their hovering skills during mating and while feeding on flowers. Female bee flies also hover near the ground while searching for the entrance of a bee or wasp nest to host their offspring. If the bee fly spots what looks like a nest entrance, she’ll fling an egg toward it from her hovering position with remarkable accuracy.