Bombylius major (commonly named the large bee-fly, the dark-edged bee-fly or the greater bee fly) is a parasitic bee mimic fly. B. major is the most common type of fly within the Bombylius genus. The fly derives its name from its close resemblance to bumblebees and are often mistaken for them.
Bombylius major exhibits a unique flight behavior known as "yawing"[1] and plays a role in general pollination, without preference of flower types.[2] The fly does not bite, sting, or spread disease.[3] However, the fly uses this mimicry of bumblebees to its own advantage, allowing close access to host solitary bee and wasp nests in order to deposit its eggs. After hatching, the larvae find their way into the nests to parasitically feed on the grubs.[4]
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^"Bee-flies and false widow spiders confound public". www.nhm.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-15.
^Stubbs, A. & Drake, M. (2001). British Soldierflies and Their Allies: A Field Guide to the Larger British Brachycera. British Entomological & Natural History Society. pp. 512 pp. ISBN 1-899935-04-5.
within the Bombylius genus. The fly derives its name from its close resemblance to bumblebees and are often mistaken for them. Bombyliusmajor exhibits...
Larvae of some species including Villa sp. feed on ova of Orthoptera. Bombyliusmajor larvae are parasitic on solitary bees including Andrena. Anthrax anale...
Bombylius canescens, commonly known as the western bee-fly, is a species of bee-fly belonging to the family Bombyliidae. Bombylius canescens is a Palearctic...
in Bombylius, a genus of bee flies in the family Bombyliidae. Bombylius aaroni Baez, 1983 c g Bombylius abominalis Wiedemann, 1828 c g Bombylius acrophylax...
is a species of fly in the family Bombyliidae. Unlike, for example, Bombyliusmajor, this species does not mimic a bee. The eggs are flicked by the adult...
chemical odours given by ant colony members. Bombyliid bee flies such as Bombyliusmajor are short-bodied, round, furry, and distinctly bee-like as they visit...
Bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants, and are the major type of pollinator in many ecosystems that contain flowering plants. It...
Oestridae (bot or warble flies) and Bombyliidae (bee flies, such as Bombyliusmajor) all include Batesian mimics of bumblebees, resembling them closely...
While most flies and bees are secondary robbers, some species, such as Bombyliusmajor, act as primary robbers. The effect of robbing is positive if the robber...
bees were foraging. These were the Conopid Myopa buccata, the bee fly Bombyliusmajor and anthomyiid Leucophora personata. In addition, Myopa testacea, was...
Parasites: cuckoo bee is Nomada leucophthalma. As another nest parasite Bombyliusmajor was observed. Adults are sometimes infested with Stylops melittae....
some species in Tipulidae (Crane flies) and other families. Syrphidae Bombylius- note the proboscis Tachinidae Tipiludae (Nematocera) Adult Asilidae,...
1007/s00606-003-0120-0. S2CID 21936259. Kastinger C & A Weber (2001). "Bee-flies (Bombylius spp., Bombyliidae, Diptera) and the pollination of flowers". Flora. 196...
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