Large Yellow-faced Bee vs Bee Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Yellow-faced Bee | Bee Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hylaeus signatus | Bombylius major |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Colletidae | Bombyliidae |
| Size | 7-9 mm | 8-18 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, North America, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Large Yellow-faced Bee
One of the larger masked bees in Europe with prominent yellow face patches. It is a specialist on wild mignonette and reseda flowers.
Did You Know?
It depends on brownfield and wasteland habitats that are often viewed as ugly but actually support a rich bee diversity.
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.