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simondix · Monday 31st March 2003, 19:56

Saw my first Bee Flies for ages today. I think they look quite weird. They were along a path in Arrow Valley Park Redditch.

Forcreeks · Friday 4th April 2003, 19:58

You know, I've never i.d.'d one of these. I live in NW USA, and my Audubon guide shows several. They are indeed strange looking, some nicer than others: Progressive Bee Fly (quite handsome!); Large Bee Fly (very strange looking). (Anthrax Exoprosopa - what a surprise that first genus part!; and Anthrax Bombylius.

Paul Rule · Friday 4th April 2003, 20:14

I love watching these feed on nectar, they behave just like minature humming birds

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:39

Fabulous little insects - is there only the one species in Britain? We get just the one here on the IOM. Seems to feed exclusively on wild Thyme nectar. I usually hear them before I see them - like a quiet mosquito.

birdman · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:47

Bee Flies... that's a new one on me...

How would I recognise one if I saw one, simondix - and where should I look?

(Personally I like our Hummingbird Hawk Moths - seeing as we don't get the "real" thing.)

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:51

They look like a small, fluffy, plain-brown bee with a long straight proboscis. The ones I see 'hang around' wild thyme - especially where the ground is broken up and the sandy soil is exposed (Manx ones are coastal).

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:21

Have a look at: http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/bombyliidae.htm

jeff · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:23

Can't say I've heard of them either but here's a web link

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm

birdman · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:24

Now that's interesting, CJW...

When me and my good lady were on holiday in Slovenia a couple of years back, we were "approached" by something that sounds very similar.

Like you say, they was fluffy, brown, long proboscis, and also had big black eyes - and one seemed to be very much checking us out.

We were quite taken with them actually, as they looked quite comical. Very much like "cartoon" flies.

Reckon you've solved a little mystery for us.

Cheers

birdman · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:27

JUST CHECKED THE LINKS

THAT'S THE CHAP!!!!

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:32

I love your description of them as 'Cartoon Flies' - very apt and it made me remember sitting and watching them last summer and laughing to myself. Must have looked a bit strange from a distance - a grown man sitting in the mileel of a heath and laughing at the ground. No wonder I didn't see anyone else all day!

birdman · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:34

If I'm ever on the island, I'll keep an eye out for you!!!

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:42

Nobody ever comes here - to the outside world, we have nowt of interest. The odd heath-based nutter, but that's about it

steve_nova · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 11:34

Bee flies...I remember reading about them years ago. They are I think brood parasites of Bumble Bees.
They will hover outside a Bees nest (the female) firing their eggs into the opening. These later hatch and feed on ?
I had better go and look at that website I think.

CJW · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 11:55

Nope, you're right Steve - the larva are parasitic.

**IanF** · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 12:07

Does anyone know the identity of this little fellow. We saw it in Majorca last year but couldn't get any further with the id ?

I'd appreciate it if someone could put a name to it, just for peace of mind.
Unknown Bee

Paul Rule · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 15:08

Just had the first one this year in the garden feeding on Forget-me-not. Tried to get a photo but it would not stay in one spot long enough

simondix · Tuesday 8th April 2003, 17:07

Sorry I could not reply to the thread I started. I have been in Cyprus for a week. Lots of birds, saw my first Swallowtail and lots of other things I did not recognise. I use Collins Guide to Insects by Michael Chinery. It is a good book but really only skims the surface of a very deep pool.

Forcreeks · Wednesday 9th April 2003, 05:47

Ian, that's a great photo of a very strange looking bee. I looked at all bees in Audubon Insect guide for N. Amer. just in case there was a close cousin, but didn't see anything similar. I'll have to look through all the flies too. Nice shot for sure. Steve B

Monday 31st March 2003, 19:56	#1
simondix Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Redditch, England Posts: 344	Bee Flies Saw my first Bee Flies for ages today. I think they look quite weird. They were along a path in Arrow Valley Park Redditch.

Friday 4th April 2003, 19:58	#2
Forcreeks If you want to see something new in nature, take the same path you did yesterday. Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2,572 My location	You know, I've never i.d.'d one of these. I live in NW USA, and my Audubon guide shows several. They are indeed strange looking, some nicer than others: Progressive Bee Fly (quite handsome!); Large Bee Fly (very strange looking). (Anthrax Exoprosopa - what a surprise that first genus part!; and Anthrax Bombylius.
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:21	#7
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	Have a look at: http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/bombyliidae.htm __________________ Chris Isle of Man Birding

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:42	#13
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	Nobody ever comes here - to the outside world, we have nowt of interest. The odd heath-based nutter, but that's about it __________________ Chris Isle of Man Birding

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 11:55	#15
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	Nope, you're right Steve - the larva are parasitic. __________________ Chris Isle of Man Birding

Friday 4th April 2003, 20:14	#3
Paul Rule Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge - England Posts: 495	I love watching these feed on nectar, they behave just like minature humming birds

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:39	#4
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	Fabulous little insects - is there only the one species in Britain? We get just the one here on the IOM. Seems to feed exclusively on wild Thyme nectar. I usually hear them before I see them - like a quiet mosquito.

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:47	#5
birdman Орнитолог-любитель Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 5,429	Bee Flies... that's a new one on me... How would I recognise one if I saw one, simondix - and where should I look? (Personally I like our Hummingbird Hawk Moths - seeing as we don't get the "real" thing.)

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 09:51	#6
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	They look like a small, fluffy, plain-brown bee with a long straight proboscis. The ones I see 'hang around' wild thyme - especially where the ground is broken up and the sandy soil is exposed (Manx ones are coastal).

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:23	#8
jeff Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Coventry Posts: 2,239	Can't say I've heard of them either but here's a web link http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:24	#9
birdman Орнитолог-любитель Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 5,429	Now that's interesting, CJW... When me and my good lady were on holiday in Slovenia a couple of years back, we were "approached" by something that sounds very similar. Like you say, they was fluffy, brown, long proboscis, and also had big black eyes - and one seemed to be very much checking us out. We were quite taken with them actually, as they looked quite comical. Very much like "cartoon" flies. Reckon you've solved a little mystery for us. Cheers

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:27	#10
birdman Орнитолог-любитель Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 5,429	JUST CHECKED THE LINKS THAT'S THE CHAP!!!!

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:32	#11
CJW Hit-and-run WUM Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 4,793	I love your description of them as 'Cartoon Flies' - very apt and it made me remember sitting and watching them last summer and laughing to myself. Must have looked a bit strange from a distance - a grown man sitting in the mileel of a heath and laughing at the ground. No wonder I didn't see anyone else all day!

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 10:34	#12
birdman Орнитолог-любитель Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 5,429	If I'm ever on the island, I'll keep an eye out for you!!!

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 11:34	#14
steve_nova Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,858	Bee flies...I remember reading about them years ago. They are I think brood parasites of Bumble Bees. They will hover outside a Bees nest (the female) firing their eggs into the opening. These later hatch and feed on ? I had better go and look at that website I think.

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 12:07	#16
IanF Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Billingham, NE England Posts: 55,483 My location	Does anyone know the identity of this little fellow. We saw it in Majorca last year but couldn't get any further with the id ? I'd appreciate it if someone could put a name to it, just for peace of mind. Unknown Bee __________________ Durham Bird Club -Teesmouth Bird Club---RSPB Saltholme---Durham Birding---Local patch - Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park Last edited by IanF : Tuesday 8th April 2003 at 12:09.
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Tuesday 8th April 2003, 15:08	#17
Paul Rule Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cambridge - England Posts: 495	Just had the first one this year in the garden feeding on Forget-me-not. Tried to get a photo but it would not stay in one spot long enough

Tuesday 8th April 2003, 17:07	#18
simondix Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Redditch, England Posts: 344	Sorry I could not reply to the thread I started. I have been in Cyprus for a week. Lots of birds, saw my first Swallowtail and lots of other things I did not recognise. I use Collins Guide to Insects by Michael Chinery. It is a good book but really only skims the surface of a very deep pool.

Wednesday 9th April 2003, 05:47	#19
Forcreeks If you want to see something new in nature, take the same path you did yesterday. Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2,572 My location	Ian, that's a great photo of a very strange looking bee. I looked at all bees in Audubon Insect guide for N. Amer. just in case there was a close cousin, but didn't see anything similar. I'll have to look through all the flies too. Nice shot for sure. Steve B
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