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Bee Fly 5

Bee Fly species that inhabit Sportsman Creek Conservation Area

A small Bee Fly with a wingspan around 15mm. It has a distinctive white spot on abdomen and has been suggested it may be parasitic of Antlion.

Anthrax Bee Fly IV Anthrax confluensis

Unidentified Beefly found feeding on pollen. Many of these fly resemble bees or wasps and most have a long probiscus that they use to obtain nectar from flowers. Their larvae are parasitic to solitary bees, some larvae destroy grasshopper eggs and others are parasitic on caterpillars.

Possibly of the genera Bombylius and Meiomyia. Bee Fly are nectar and pollen feeders. Image taken on dry winter grasses in Open Eucalypt Woodland at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge.

I.D. courtesy of Martin Robinson.   Naturalist,  Australian Museum.

Image taken along the riparian zone on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge in late summer. Recognised by short white hairs around the thorax, hairy black abdomen with white dots on it.

Reference; http://brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_robbers/Thraxan.htm

Image taken along the riparian zone on Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge of a large 15mm long  Bee Fly. They feed on nectar as adults and are usually parasitic of other insects as a maggot. Their wings have distinctive veiny patterns. They also mimic wasps or bees, hovering around flowers and plants.

I.D. courtesy of Martyn Robinson.  Naturalist,  Australian Museum.

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