Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Bombylius major

Ok, ok, it's actually called a Greater Bee Fly, but it's scientific name is "Bombylius major"...see? The person that named this guy thought it looked like a B-52 Bomber too! :D Actually, they're more like a Black Hawk helicopter because they are masters at hovering perfectly still and maneuvering much like a hummingbird. They are really neat insects and I'm so pleased to get a picture of this one sipping nectar from a Common Brodiaea blossom. It will also be one of my three pictures for the Motion theme at our photography meeting this week! :) The Large Bee Fly is a bee mimic. Females flick eggs towards the entrance of underground bee and wasp nests and the hatching larvae enter the nests and eat the grubs! They are found in most parts of Europe, North America and some parts of Asia. If you would like to know more about these awesome flies, Wiki has a good source of information here: Wiki: Greater Bee Fly (Bombylius major)