Pale-palped Spring Beegrabber - Myopa pellucida
Favourite Photos
Species Description
Widespread but scarce and local in the South West. It is on the increase. Habitat includes: flower-rich sites with mixed terrain such as scrub, farmland, woodland rides / clearings, gardens, parks, allotments, churchyards etc. Life story: A parasite of Ashy Mining Bees (Andrena cineraria). Females ambush and grab their host in midflight (hence their name) whist depositing an egg inbetween the hosts abdominal segments, using a specially adapted ovipositor. Once the egg hatches, the parasitic larva burrows down eating its way inside, filling up the hosts abdomen as it grows. The behaviour of the Mining Bee changes and will often not return to the nest at night but will remain outside. Foraging habits also change, tending to use more open flowers. Eventually after about 12 days the parasitised bee burrows into the ground before dying. The parasite pupates and will remain in the ground, lying dormant until the following spring to start all over again. Flowers visited: Willows, Blackthorn, Cherry Laurel, Crab Apple, Hawthorns, Oil-seed rape, Dandelions, Forget-me-not's, Wood Spurge, Bluebell, Garlic Mustard. Host: Andrena cineraria (Ashy Mining Bee).