Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Photo#254205
Greater Bee Fly  - Bombylius major

Greater Bee Fly - Bombylius major
Daphne (Village Point Preserve), Baldwin County, Alabama, USA
February 20, 2009
Would this be a Greater Bee Fly Bombylius major? The venation seems spot on. I just want to be sure I didn't overlook something. Thanks.

ID
This is indeed in the key of B. major.

 
Distribution
Interestingly, from BG distribution map, they are only seen in early spring. Even more interesting, B. major makes its appearance EVERYWHERE in April. Where is it the other 11 months?

 
B. major
When the adults aren't flying, the larvae are developing inside bee nests; this species is a parasitoid of various solitary bees. I believe they overwinter as pupae, so the adults can emerge early in spring. There are occasional individuals that emerge out of sync with the rest of the population in the summer or fall, but almost all come out during a few weeks in the spring (mid April to early June here, earlier further south).

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.