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Diptera.info :: Identification queries :: Diptera (adults)
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Bombylius
diphascon
#1 Print Post
Posted on 05-04-2006 22:49
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T?bingen (SW Germany), 03.04.06, on a wall

Is it Bombylius discolor?

cheers - martin
diphascon attached the following image:


[72.44Kb]
 
Paul Beuk
#2 Print Post
Posted on 06-04-2006 08:34
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Probably, but to be certain we should know the colour of the hairs on the venter. These are dark in B. discolor and pale in the similar B. medius. The information I have also gives B. discolor as flying much earlier, so I can guess what the answer will be...
Paul

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LordV
#3 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 07:25
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Not sure if it helps- here's a pic of what I think is Bombylius major I took yesterday South coast UK.
Brian V.

static.flickr.com/53/124296100_27fbb7d410_o.jpg
 
Paul Beuk
#4 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 08:20
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Yep, that's a major.
Paul

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diphascon
#5 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 09:19
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Paul Beuk wrote:
Probably, but to be certain we should know the colour of the hairs on the venter. These are dark in B. discolor and pale in the similar B. medius.


Thanks, Paul.

The ventral hairs are all black, so I think it's discolor

cheers - martin (the sun is out today ...)
 
Louis Boumans
#6 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 17:14
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Lord V : no, I don't think it's particularly helpful, but it IS a great picture! So thanks for sharing it with us Wink,

Louis
 
Perseus
#7 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 18:38
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Hello,

www.glaucus.org.uk/Bee-fly098e.jpg

6 April 2006
Mill Hill, Sussex.
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/MillHill2006.html

More Information and links:
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Flies2006.html

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: April 2006
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/April2006.html

Button image for web sites linking Adur Nature Notes
http://www.smartgroups.com/pictures/openalbum.cfm?GID=1394578&AlbumID=5944265
><< ( ( ( ' >
 
Perseus
#8 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 18:43
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Last year I had B. major on 10 April 2005 in a garden.

www.glaucus.org.uk/Bee-Fly098.jpg
I have less information on what is meant to be the commoner of the two species in England. And it probably is commoner!



 
Perseus
#9 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 23:35
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Has anybody else got other Bombylius photographs from northern Europe (at least two other species) they can post on this thread to make a useful reference please?
 
Perseus
#10 Print Post
Posted on 07-04-2006 23:40
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A possible B. ater?

http://www.dipter...=8#post_18

This is not a UK recorded species though:

Checklist of UK Recorded Bombyliidae

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombylius canescens Mikan, 1796
Bombylius discolor Mikan, 1796
Bombylius major Linnaeus, 1758
Bombylius minor Linnaeus, 1758
Phthiria pulicaria (Mikan, 1796)
Thyridanthrax fenestratus (Fall?n, 1814)
Villa cingulata (Meigen, 1804)
Villa circumdata authors, misident.
Villa modesta (Meigen, 1820)
Villa venusta (Meigen, 1820)

The two species in the same genus are the ones most interesting to compare.
 
Perseus
#11 Print Post
Posted on 18-04-2006 00:59
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Hello,

Has anybody spotted any ordinary Bee-flies B. major, this year? All the reports have been of B. discolor!

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: April 2006
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/April2006.html
 
Paul Beuk
#12 Print Post
Posted on 18-04-2006 07:42
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I have not seen bee flies but then again, they are pretty scarce in my part of the Netherlands... But as far as I am aware, B. major is the commoner of the two species and, conseriring Britain as a whole, I think it should be the commoner there, too.
Paul

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Gordon Jar
#13 Print Post
Posted on 18-04-2006 19:52
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Location: East Sussex, England
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Both species are certainly active in my part of East Sussex on the south coast of England. This year is the first time I have seen B. discolor, a nationally scarce fly to Britain, in my area. There again I have only been looking since last year.

Gordon
 
conopid
#14 Print Post
Posted on 19-04-2006 20:19
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Loads of Bombylius major flying in Shropshire - central England. This is curious as in many places where I have seen Bombylius there is little evidence of the host Andrena mining bee. Certainly no sign of B discolor in these parts!
Nigel Jones, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
 
LordV
#15 Print Post
Posted on 19-04-2006 20:33
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Assuming the pic above is B.major and the one below, I've seen quite a few in my garden just along the coast from you (Worthing)
Brian V.

Here's another pic from a couple of days ago.

static.flickr.com/45/130878321_924f84330f.jpg

Perseus wrote:
Hello,

Has anybody spotted any ordinary Bee-flies B. major, this year? All the reports have been of B. discolor!

Cheers

Andy Horton
glaucus@hotmail.com
Adur Valley (West Sussex) Nature Notes
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Adur2006.html
Adur Valley Nature Notes: April 2006
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/April2006.html

Edited by LordV on 19-04-2006 20:38
 
Perseus
#16 Print Post
Posted on 23-04-2006 10:35
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I saw my first B. major on 22 April 2006 in sunny Sussex.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Flies2006.html

Not very good image so I will not post it. The black line on the wing could be seen easily without the aid of magnifying equipment. Could not get out int eh sunshine yesterday and now it is raining.
 
Perseus
#17 Print Post
Posted on 23-04-2006 10:38
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PS. A few days ago (8 April 2006), I saw scores of Andrena flavipes locally.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Bees2.html
Edited by Perseus on 30-04-2006 10:28
 
Perseus
#18 Print Post
Posted on 23-04-2006 10:44
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Have we got dates that B. major was first recorded this year please?

Last year I made a note that the first one I saw was on 3 April 2005 in Sussex.

http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Flies2.html

 
LordV
#19 Print Post
Posted on 23-04-2006 12:09
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First pic I have of one In Worthing Sussex was on 5th April 2006.
Brian V.
 
Perseus
#20 Print Post
Posted on 23-04-2006 17:34
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Good image.

As early as last year then.

I was hampered by observer opportunities this year. Bee flies do not visit my garden. I have to go to them.

Butterflies are late this year, but Bee-flies are on time or thereabouts? or were they earlier last year? (my first record was 3 April 2005).
 
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