Posted by Sundew on 09-04-2009 23:34
#1
Hi,
Today I watched a nesting site of hundreds of
Andrena bees, accompanied by their cuckoos. Also a
Bombylius appeared and, after a long criss-cross flight, landed and stuck its abdomen tip into the sand. I learned it collects some sand to cover the sticky eggs that are thrown into the nesting holes of the bees afterwards. I also watched the
Bombylius hovering over a hole but could not see if an egg was deposited.
So is this
Bombylius major? Unfortunately, the wings are blurred, as it did not stop buzzing. So it is not clear whether cell R1 is fully dark. Can the fly be identified nevertheless?
Many thanks, Sundew
Posted by ChrisR on 09-04-2009 23:57
#2
It certainly looks like B.major but I am no expert - I leave that to David. :D
Funnily enough, I watched a rather frustrated
Bombylius major in my garden - pausing every few seconds to look at my concrete path. I guess old concrete looks like earth but I'm afraid it flew away without any dust for its eggs ;)