A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Bombylius major
The large bee fly is a stout, fuzzy fly with a very prominent proboscis. It is a bee mimic and actually lays its eggs in the entrances of bee and wasp nests, where the larvae eat the grubs of the unsuspecting victims. Large bee flies are seen between April and June in the temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere, so it's the start of the season for them. They appear to love yellow flowers, as the other time I've spotted these they were buzzing around the daffodils!
Found in temperate areas of Europe and North America, need areas of flowering plants and a population of bees or wasps.
I found this guy buzzing around some dandelions on the Wivenhoe Trail between Colchester and Wivenhoe.
Spotted on Apr 15, 2012
Submitted on Apr 15, 2012
No Comments