Bee Flies

So sweet! Photo: Jean27 Feb 2017ID: Choristus spThank you Xuankun Li, Master of Science, CSIRO

This small bee-flies hover while they feed but occasionally sit and have a rest. It is the only time their wings stop. Here it is hovering while feeding on nectar on a Stylidium rubricalyx flower. It is touching the flower very lightly and hasn't set off the trigger which can come over to pat pollen on the body of the fly. This helps in pollination. ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thanks XuankunPhotos: Jean

Here an Choristus sp Bee fly is resting and feeding from Lysinema elegans flower. It is vary rare to see insects feeding on Lysinema flowers with their long thin tube flowers.Photos: Jean 2014 ..ID: Xuankun Li

I enjoyed seeing this small beefly feeding on the small Stylidium (trigger plants) and was very pleased when one of the flies sat down long enough for me to get a photo. Photos: JeanJanuary 2017: ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thank you Xuankun Li, Master of Science, CSIRO

A small (<10mm) fly feeding from a Conostylis flower. I never realised that their proboscis is so long. January 2017: ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thank you Xuankun Li, Master of Science, CSIRO

A small (<10mm) fly feeding from a Conostylis flower. I never realised that their proboscis is so long. January 2017: ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thank you Xuankun Li, Master of Science, CSIRO

Small colourful flies that hover between low plants in sunshine.Photo: Fred

The small bee-flies hover while they feed but occasionally sit and have a rest. It is the only time their wings stop.They hide well among the ephemeral plants. ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thanks XuankunPhotos: Jean

These fluffy bee flies are being studied at the moment. This one was particularly beautiful.Photo: Jean

Here an Choristus sp Bee fly is feeding from Lysinema elegans flower. Notice it is hovering while feeding. It is vary rare to see insects feeding on Lysinema flowers with their long thin tube flowers.Photos: Jean 2014 Note: Lysinema plants are often called 'curry plants' due to the smell emitted when the leaves are crushed. ID: Xuankun LI

A small (<10mm) fly feeding from a Conostylis flower. I never realised that their proboscis is so long. January 2017: ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thank you Xuankun Li, Master of Science, CSIRO

These small bee-flies hover while they feed but occasionally sit and have a rest. It is the only time their wings stop. ASILOIDEA BOMBYLIIDAE Bombyliinae "Choristus sp" Thanks XuankunPhotos: Jean

While out last week on a plant survey, I couldn't help stop when I saw the beeflies. I was surprised at how many different species there were as we do not have many flowering plants around at the moment. This one caught my eye with its tiny head and stripey abdomen.

Kranjska Gora, Jesenice, Slovenia

San Martin, Andalusia, Spain

Aren't they just magnificent!!Aleucosia dorsalis

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

The Staurostichus flies were very fast on this day and this one stopped to rest on a Scholtzia involucrata flower. I guess it being 30+C helped speed them up. Any hotter than 32C and they don't fly. Photo: Jean~ 10mmID: Xuankun Li

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

Tabberabbera, Victoria, Australia

South Oxfordshire District, England, United Kingdom