ExploreInsects

Greater Bee Fly

Bombylius major

The Greater Bee Fly is a fuzzy little insect that looks like a bee! It loves to visit flowers and sip sweet nectar, helping plants grow while it feeds.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Greater Bee Fly is a fuzzy, stout-bodied fly that strongly resembles a bumblebee with brown and yellowish hairs. It has a distinctive long, slender proboscis and clear wings with a prominent dark brown patch near the front edge. Its powerful flight allows it to hover gracefully.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderDipteraFamilyBombyliidaeGenusBombylius
Greater Bee Fly
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Greater Bee Fly

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Baby bee flies are carnivores and eat other insect larvae!

Despite looking like a bee, this fluffy insect cannot sting you!

It sometimes flies backwards, which is super rare for an insect!

They are great at pollinating many different types of wildflowers.

Special abilities

Ability

Hovering Master

Greater Bee Flies can hover perfectly still in mid-air, like a tiny helicopter, that helps them precisely sip nectar from flowers.

Ability

Disguise Artist

This fly mimics furry bees to trick predators into thinking it can sting, which helps it stay safe while foraging.

Ability

Long Snorkeler

Greater Bee Flies have an extra-long proboscis (tongue) that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tubular flowers.

Ability

Sneaky Nursery

Female bee flies lay eggs near the nests of ground-nesting bees, where their larvae can secretly grow by eating the bee larvae.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
18-25 mm
Size
10-14 mm
Lifespan
20-30 days
Flight Speed
15 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults drink sweet nectar from flowers, while their tiny larvae secretly snack on other insects.

Age differences: Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae are parasitoids, feeding on the larvae of solitary bees and wasps.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Pollen

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

Bee Fly

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Bee flies are friendly and won't sting, but it's always good to watch them from a distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Greater Bee Fly's wingspan?

18-25 mm

How big is Greater Bee Fly?

10-14 mm

How long does Greater Bee Fly live?

20-30 days

How fast can Greater Bee Fly fly?

15 km/h

What does Greater Bee Fly eat?

Adults drink sweet nectar from flowers, while their tiny larvae secretly snack on other insects.

Where is Greater Bee Fly usually found?

Grasslands

How does Greater Bee Fly hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Greater Bee Fly have?

6

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