Bees Out in the Spring Sunshine.

We enjoyed spring like weather on Monday with temperatures above the average for this time of year.Consequently all types of insects responded to the warmth and I was pleased to see my first Bee-fly of the year.The Dark-edged Bee-fly or Large Bee-fly (Bombylius major) is common here and mimics a small bumblebee.

Queen bumblebees are also out and about with this Buff-tailed Bumblebee carrying a group of mites in need of a new home.Mites are normally harmless to the bee as they feed on wax,pollen,debris and small insects found in the formers nest.

Bombylius discolor.

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.

    

Bombylius major - The Dark-edged Bee-fly

The Dark-edged Bee-fly or Large Bee-fly is the most common bee-fly in the UK and today I came across several individuals in my local wood. I spied my first of the year last week at the same location as they busily feed on primrose flowers.
The Bee-fly is a bee mimic and resembles a small bumblebee.The larvae of  Bombylius major parasitise the broods of solitary bees and wasp nests as well as beetle larvae.The female Bee-fly has been observed flicking her eggs in midair into the nest tunnels of ground nesting bees and wasps.Here the eggs hatch and attack the host larva when it is about to pupate.