Dark-edged Bee-fly - Bombylius major
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Species Description
Fairly common and widespread throughout the UK but more so in the South. Habitat includes: Flower rich areas along with its host (various Mining Bees) gardens, parks, allotments, cemeteries, hedgerows, woodland, scrub, road side verges, cliff tops etc. Flight period: Spring - From February to May but can be as early as January. Adults feed on various flowers: Primrose, Ground-ivy, Bugle, Spurges, Spring-blossoming shrubs / trees such as Blackthorn, Wild Cherry, Willows, Sallows etc. Life story: Parasitic of spring-flying Mining Bee grubs and a variety of Andrena species such as Clark's Mining Bee, Tawny Mining Bee, Chocolate Mining Bee, Orange-tailed Mining Bee. The Female lays eggs by shooting them onto the ground from a height, like bombs near to where the hosts are nesting.