Bombylius major

The greater bee fly is the most commonly found bee fly. Adults are agile in the air and can even “yaw” or rotate around a vertical axis. Using their mimicry to get close to solitary bee and wasp nests, they lay eggs near the entrance. Once hatched, a bee fly larva will seek out a host larva to parasitize.

Order: Diptera
Family: Bombyliidae

Photograph: © 2018 RKD Peterson
Date of Photograph: 3 May 2018
Location: Montana, Gallatin Co.