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Mechernich Satzvey (Germany), 28 and 29 April 2022 . On both days a number of flower visitors (bees, bumble bees, syrphids, bluebottles) were visiting the blossoms of a sizeable laurel shrub in our garden. The thick-headed flies shown in the pictures (there were three or four of them around) were resting on the evergreen leaves, but were very unsteady and changed their position frequently. Twice an attack on a bee could be observed. From a short distance the fly went straight for the bee on a blossom, landed on its back and left again after two or three seconds. In both cases the surprised bee flew away immediately afterwards. Myopa sp., could it be Myopa tesselatipennis? Females? Thanks a lot checking.


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