Dotted bee-fly  (Bombylius discolor)

Information authenticated by Jon Webb, English Nature:
http://www.english-nature.gov.uk/

• Abdomen: in arthropods (crustaceans, insects and arachnids) the abdomen is the hind region of the body, which is usually segmented to a degree. In crustacea (e.g. crabs) the limbs attach to the abdomen; in insects the limbs are attached to the thorax (the part of the body nearest to the head) and not the abdomen. In vertebrates the abdomen is the part of the body that contains the internal organs (except the heart and lungs).
• Gravid: carrying developing young or eggs.
• Larva: stage in an animal's lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.
• Proboscis: a tubular protrusion from the anterior of an animal (e.g. the trunk of an elephant).
• Pupate: the process of forming a pupa, the stage in an insect's development, when huge changes occur that reorganise the larval form into the adult form. In butterflies the pupa is also called a chrysalis.

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (August 2002) http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
2. Jon Webb (2002) Pers. Comm.
3. UKBAP (August 2002): http://www.ukbap.org.uk
4. From observation of images.
5. Allaby, M. (1991) The concise Oxford dictionary of Zoology. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
6. Kendall Bioresearch. Bee-flies. (September 2002): http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beefly.htm
7. Ismay, J. W (1999) A review of the ecology and distribution of Bombylius discolor Mikan (Diptera, Bombyliidae). English Nature Research report number 309. English Nature, Peterborough.
8. English Nature, habitat associations (September 2002): http://www.english-nature.org.uk/baps/species/habitats.asp?Id=157&PrevPage=overview.asp&SType=C&K=&PageNo=