Bombomyia discoidea

Bombomyia discoidea

Large Bee fly with a wingspan measuring 20mm. Bombomyia are striking with a thorax coloured orange or black with a white-tipped abdomen although there are many colour variations. Widespread across South Africa where they are found in grasslands where they are usually seen imbibing nectar from flowers, especially thistles. Bombomyia parasite Solitary bees.
Bee fly 'bum shot' Here you can see the distinctive white bottom! Bombomyia discoidea,Geotagged,South Africa,Summer,bee flies,diptera,flies,insects,south africa

Naming

Fabricus 1794
Bee fly Strange looking fly easily spotted with its white bottom ( I will post a 'bum shot'!) Bombomyia discoidea,Geotagged,South Africa,Summer,bee flies,diptera,flies,insects,south africa

Distribution

Greece, Italy, Hungary, Southern Russia, Spain, Ukraine, North Africa, Afro-tropical regions, East Palaearctic and the Near East

Habitat

Grasslands and bushveld

Reproduction

Parasite solitary bees

Food

Nectar, particularly from thistles

References:

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http://www.faunaeur.org/full_results.php?id=130363
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderDiptera
FamilyBombyliidae
GenusBombomyia
SpeciesBombomyia discoidea
Photographed in
South Africa