Bombyliidae

The Bombyliidae are a family of flies, commonly known as bee flies. Sometimes people call them bomber flies. These interesting insects look a bit like bees, which helps them avoid predators. Most adult bee flies enjoy eating nectar and pollen from flowers, and some of them play a big role in helping plants grow by being important pollinators.

The larvae, or baby stages, of bee flies are mostly parasitoids of other insects. This means they live on or inside other insects until the host insect eventually dies. Even though this might sound dramatic, it's a natural part of how these flies help balance ecosystems. Bee flies are found all around the world and come in many different shapes and colors, making them fascinating to watch and learn about.

Overview

The Bombyliidae are a large family of flies with hundreds of different groups. They can range in size from very small, about 2 mm long, to quite large with a wingspan of up to 40 mm, making some of them among the biggest flies. When they are resting, many bee flies hold their wings back at a special angle. These flies usually eat nectar and pollen, and some help plants by moving pollen from one flower to another. They often have long, tube-like mouths to reach deep into flowers.

Bee flies often look like bees, which helps protect them from predators. Their babies, called larvae, live by eating the eggs or young of other insects, such as beetles, wasps, or solitary bees. There are at least 4,500 known types of bee flies, with many more probably waiting to be discovered. Even though they are important for nature, they are not often seen in parks or gardens like some other insects.

Morphology

Bee flies, also known as Bombyliidae, come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from very small to a few centimeters long. Most have bodies covered in dense hair and colors like brown, black, or yellow. Some bee flies look like bees or wasps, which helps protect them from predators.

Their wings are clear or colored and often have special patterns. The wings help female bee flies fly longer distances, especially when searching for food or laying eggs. Even though they look similar to hoverflies, bee flies can be told apart by their curved faces and wing patterns.

Biology

Bee flies, also known as Bombyliidae, are fascinating insects that love sunny, dry places with sand or rocks. They have strong wings and are often seen flying near flowers or resting on warm ground. These flies play a big role in helping plants grow because they visit flowers for nectar and pollen, which helps plants make seeds.

Unlike many other flies that eat only nectar, bee flies also eat pollen, which gives them important proteins. They can fly very fast and change direction quickly, and some even hover in one spot in the air. Some bee flies have long mouthparts that they use while hovering to reach deep into flowers for food, while others land on flowers and walk around like bees. This makes them important pollinators, especially in dry places where few other insects live.

Zoogeography

The bee flies, known as Bombyliidae, are found all over the world, including the Palearctic realm, Nearctic realm, Afrotropical realm, Neotropical realm, Australasian realm, Oceanian realm, and Indomalayan realm. They are especially diverse in warm, dry areas found in tropical and subtropical regions. These flies play an important role in pollination, as the adults feed on nectar and pollen.

Species lists

Bee flies, also known as Bombyliidae, are found all around the world. You can learn more about them in different regions using these links:

• West Palaearctic including Russia
• Nearctic
• Japan

Systematics

The systematics of bee flies, also known as bombyliids or bee flies, are quite uncertain. Scientists have debated how to classify them, with different studies placing them in various groups. Over time, many changes have been made to their classification.

Today, there are about 4700 known species of bee flies, grouped into 270 different genera. They are organized into several subfamilies, tribes, and groups, though the exact arrangement can vary among researchers. Some of the main subfamilies include Anthracinae, Bombyliinae, Crocidiinae, and many others.

Genera

Bee flies, also known as Bombyliidae, are a family of flies often called bee flies or bomber flies. The adults feed on nectar and pollen, and some species play an important role in pollinating plants.

The family includes many different genera, such as:

• Acanthogeron Bezzi, 1925
• Acreophthiria Evenhuis, 1986
• Acreotrichus Macquart, 1840
• Acrophthalmyda Bigot, 1858
• Adelidea Macquart, 1840
• Adelogenys Hesse, 1938
• Aldrichia Coquillett, 1894
• Alepidophora Cockerell, 1909
• Aleucosia Edwards, 1934
• Alomatia Cockerell, 1914

There are many more genera in this family, making it a large and diverse group of insects.