Of course not a bee, but the Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor has a life cycle that is intertwined with that of the solitary bee.As with the more common Dark-edged Bee-fly the female scatters her eggs close to the nesting hole of the solitary bee.The larvae then find their way into the bees burrow where they will develop and finally take to the wing.It is unclear which particular species of bee is used but most probably one of the Andrena species such as Andrena falvipes.
The Dotted Bee-fly has a very limited distribution in the UK and the Isle of Wight is a stronghold for this species which is classified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain.
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