Bee fly. Macrophotograph of a bee fly, Bombylius major, warming its flight muscles in preparation for takeoff from a grape hyacinth, Muscari This

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Bee fly. Macrophotograph of a bee fly, Bombylius major, warming its flight muscles in preparation for takeoff from a grape hyacinth, Muscari This fly uses its long proboscis to feed on the sugary fluid (nectar) found at the base of flower tubes. Whilst feeding, pollen grains attach to this long mouthpart of the fly, and Bombylius may act as a pollinator transferring pollen to other hyacinth flowers. Bee flies (family: Bombyliidae), despite their unusual appearance, are true flies. Larvae of the Bombylius genus are parasites on various species of bee.

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Size: 4957px × 3454px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, bee, bees, bombylius, flower, grape, hyacinth, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, major, muscari, nature, pollin, pollination, sp., type, wildlife, zoology