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.

Threats

This species declined following the catastrophic crash in populations of solitary bees during the 1960s and 1970s; this was the result of the widespread intensification of agriculture, which reduced the number of suitable nest sites, and the availability of suitable flowers for host bees (3).

Conservation

A number of known populations that support this species are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or National Nature Reserves (NNRs). The dotted bee-fly is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) priority species, its Species Action Plan aims to maintain all current populations, and make sure that at least 20 viable populations throughout the former range are in place by 2010 (3). Furthermore, English Nature has included this species in its Species Recovery Programme.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.
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