Bee Fly - Bombylius major

[Ryewolf]

I've never seen one of these before, so initially I had no idea what it was, it is fairy distinctive so didn't take too long to ID. It is about the size of a normal bee and even with the naked eye I could see that long spike on it's head - it's proboscis as it turns out and used for drinking nectar and totally harmless...

Canon 100mm Macro, Canon EP25 Extension Tube, Manual Mode, f11, 1/200th iso200 with the ring flash set to -2/3rds EV

 

[RyanB]

Nice sharp shots these, they seem to love the forget me nots in my garden.

 

[Graham]

Very nice shots, try getting one in flight next time while its taking nectar.

 

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Ryan and Graham, it had been flying just a few seconds before I took these.

 

[Hertsman]

These fascinate me, I love watching them, they change direction so fast!

Great pics.

 

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Mark

 

[alfbranch]

Nicely shot Geoff

 

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Alf, the leaf it decided to land on was just a few inches of the ground, so this was a lying down shot....