Bee Fly vs Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris)
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bee Fly | Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris) |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombylius major | Drosophila silvestris |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Bombyliidae | Drosophilidae |
| Size | 8-18 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America, Asia | Oceania (Hawaii - Big Island) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
Bee Fly
A fuzzy bee mimic with a long fixed proboscis used for hovering in front of flowers to drink nectar. Despite its innocent appearance, larvae are parasites of solitary bee nests.
Did You Know?
Bee flies are aerial bombers — females flick their eggs into the entrance holes of ground-nesting bee burrows while hovering, never landing.
Hawaiian Picture-wing Fly (Silvestris)
A Hawaiian picture-wing fly closely related to D. heteroneura but with a normally shaped head. It is found in wet forests on Hawaii Island. This species and D. heteroneura are a classic study system for understanding speciation in progress.
Did You Know?
D. silvestris and D. heteroneura can hybridize in the lab, providing key insights into how new species form through sexual selection.