Dotted bee-fly  (Bombylius discolor)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

As the common name suggests, the dotted bee-fly is somewhat similar in appearance to a bee with its stout, furry body (4). Like all flies, it has a single pair of wings for flight; the hind wings have been modified into drumstick-like balancing appendages known as 'halteres' (5). Striking features that allow bee-flies to be distinguished from bees include their long, spindly legs, and the long stiff proboscis, which is held out in front of the head and used to probe flowers for nectar (6). This scarce species is highly distinctive, with brown spots on the wings and black hairs at the end of the abdomen(7).

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