Not an Alien Creature but a Bee Fly

[Geoff F]

As something of a follow on from the Bee thread.

This strange looking UK species is actually a fly which goes under the common name of Bee Fly.



It is resting it's legs on the flower but still hovering it's wings. The 'feeding tube' is non retractable which gives it an odd and rather fierce appearance, although it is actually harmless to humans.

And it has a strange reproductive behaviour which entails 'throwing' the eggs into the nest of some types of bee. Which makes it a 'cuckoo fly'.

This one was flitting from flower to flower so fast that I struggled to get a focus or a decent camera angle. I was always one flower behind.

[jamn4ex]

Great shot!