The
Large Bee Fly (
Bombylius major) is a
bee mimic, squat and very hairy, 14 to 18 mm in length and a wingspan around 24 mm. Adults feed by means of their very long
proboscises on the
nectar of many species of flower. The species is widely distributed throughout the whole northern hemisphere and in North Africa, and is very well known.
Photo credit: Richard Bartz