Subject: What is this please?!
Location: Bedfordshire, England
April 8, 2013 7:16 am
Hello Bugman,
I’ve seen this insect for 2 days so decided to get some pictures! I have never seen anything like it and can’t indentify it from the internet.
It appears to have a ’sting’ or solid long thing coming from it’s head.
It has been seen 7th April and 8th April 2013 in Bedfordshire, England. Both times it was around 2pm
Please can you help?
Signature: Mrs B, England
Dear Mrs B,
Your insect is a Greater Bee Fly, Bombylius major, and it is found “throughout most of NA (Canada and the US to Baja) and Eurasia” according to BugGuide. The Greater Bee Fly is a harmless pollinating insect that uses its long proboscis to take nectar from flowers. You may also read about them on UK Safari.
My work mate and I spotted one of these down here in Brighton yesterday. We think it came off some 7 metre tall Leylandii we were planting.
They can be common in the spring months.
#bugman you are true ?????
I wish I lived in Australia now!!! ?
Bee flies are so cute!!!!! I wish they were born in England!!!! ☺
I hope they don’t extinct because they become extinct one day. ?
( I like the white bee flies!!!! ?)
Fine!!! Please don’t die bee flies!!!!!! ????????
I hate flies tho!!!!! ???
Vote: For bee flies to die or: save the bee f-f-lies! ??