| | S | M | T | W | T | F | S | | 29 | 30 | 31 |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
| |
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
| |
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
| |
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
| |
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
| 1 | 2 | 3 |  » Stats |
Members: 48,655
Threads: 78,892
Posts: 821,433
Top Poster: glsammy (14,779)
| | Welcome to our newest member, redfrag | |  | 
22-06-2009, 12:54 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corfe Mullen, Dorset
Posts: 1,611
| | | Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
This looks really strange to me, not at all like the other B. lapidarius I've seen - v.v long face and flat yellow hair on the face.
I'm confused. Thanks. Jane   |
22-06-2009, 01:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lincoln
Posts: 4,826
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
No wonder you're confused, lol, it's a fly, Volucella bombylans.  
ps., don't worry, I used to make the same mistake! 
Janet  |
22-06-2009, 01:38 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corfe Mullen, Dorset
Posts: 1,611
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
At least I knew it wasn't right! That's a start.
Interesting. It looks like it has a mite (like the bees get).
Jane |
22-06-2009, 03:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Lincoln
Posts: 4,826
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
Quote:
Originally Posted by tigger  At least I knew it wasn't right! That's a start.
Interesting. It looks like it has a mite (like the bees get).
Jane | They are good bee mimics, and confusing to the uninitiated! A good clue when learning is to look at the eyes, flies eyes are different.
This one actually parasitises Bombus lapidarius, hence the red tail! 
I think the 'mite' could be pollen. |
22-06-2009, 04:59 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corfe Mullen, Dorset
Posts: 1,611
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
And there was me saying the other day that I could now tell a Bee from a Fly! Fat lot I know! It even moved like a bee.....  However, somewhere deep inside I knew it wasn't....
Interesting that it looks so much like it's host...
Jane |
22-06-2009, 05:28 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: knowle, solihull (just south of b'ham)
Posts: 2,800
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
also look at this antennae, they are different in flies
__________________ Current activity: Trying to think of a witty signature My wildlife gallery -adam H- |
22-06-2009, 07:16 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Corfe Mullen, Dorset
Posts: 1,611
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
I know, I know. It's so obvious to me now - I feel a right fool! J |
22-06-2009, 07:19 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: knowle, solihull (just south of b'ham)
Posts: 2,800
| | | Re: Red Tailed/Yellow Faced Bee for ID
it's hardly foolish to be outwitted by thousands of years of evolution. those flies survive to the next generation because of their ability to mimic the bee
__________________ Current activity: Trying to think of a witty signature My wildlife gallery -adam H- | | |
| Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
| » New Wildlife Posts | | | | | | | | | | |  Newts Yesterday 11:03 PM 12 Replies, 1,438 Views | | | | | » New Environment Posts | | | | | | | | | » New Activity Posts | | | | | | | | | » New Community Posts | | | | | | | | | |
