ONH

Greater Bee Fly

Bombylius major

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    1 - Greater Bee Fly, Bombylius major female. Slides 1-4 and the video are of the same individual.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    2 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    3 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    4 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    5 - Greater Bee Fly male nectaring on Forget-Me-Not. Slides 5-10 are the same individual hovering.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

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    6 - Greater Bee Fly. Slides 5-10 are the same individual.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

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    7 - Greater Bee Fly with its proboscis in the flower. Slides 5-10 are the same individual.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

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    8 - Greater Bee Fly with its proboscis withdrawn. Note pollen on the proboscis. Slides 5-10 are the same individual.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

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    9 - Greater Bee Fly. Slides 5-10 are the same individual.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

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    10 - Greater Bee Fly. Slides 5-10 are the same individual.

    05/18/2019 Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park, WA

  • Content Slide
  • 1080358
    1 - Greater Bee Fly, Bombylius major.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

  • 1080349
    2 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    3 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

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    4 - Greater Bee Fly.

    04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

  • Content Slide

Video - Greater Bee Fly, Bombylius major female.

04/30/2013 Mouth of the Elwha River, Port Angeles, Washington

Members of this common and widespread species were nectaring on some of the first spring flowers near the mouth of the Elwha river (slides 1-4 and the video), and on Forget-Me-Not flowers in the Heart O' the Hills Area, Olympic National Park (slides 5-10).

Like other bee flies, the Greater Bee Fly drops eggs near the holes of other insects. The eggs hatch and the larvae crawl into the hole to parasitize the insect larvae there.

This species has a characteristic dark pattern on the leading edge of the wings. The hairs covering the body may be buff to brown or yellow.

Thanks to bugguide.net for the ID.