Great Pied Hoverfly vs Dark-edged Bee-fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Great Pied Hoverfly | Dark-edged Bee-fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Volucella bombylans | Bombylius major discolor |
| Order | Diptera | Diptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Bombyliidae |
| Size | 12-16 mm | 8-12mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Parasitoids | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Great Pied Hoverfly
A furry hoverfly that exists in multiple colour forms, each mimicking a different bumblebee species. Larvae develop inside bumblebee nests.
Did You Know?
Different colour forms mimic different bumblebee species, with some resembling red-tailed and others white-tailed bumblebees.
Dark-edged Bee-fly
A subspecies of the bee-fly with slightly different wing patterning found in eastern populations.
Did You Know?
Hovers at spring flowers with its long rigid proboscis extended, looking remarkably like a furry hummingbird.