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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,148
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, pywacket4u | |  | 
11-04-2010, 07:34 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,421
| | | Beefly behaviour
I was watching a beefly today and she appeared to be depositing eggs directly into the soil by pushing her abdomen just under the surface for a few seconds at a time. All the time her wings were moving and then she would move on a short distance and do it again. I've never seen this before. Is it common? I always thought they dropped their eggs from height while flying. |
11-04-2010, 08:01 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: S. Devon
Posts: 3,893
| | | Re: Beefly behaviour
Not something which I have seen; but have read that they often try to 'roll' their eggs into the nest of a host bee. |
11-04-2010, 08:30 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London
Posts: 1,011
| | | Re: Beefly behaviour
This was probably to collect dust which is used to coat the eggs. The extra weight allows them to be flicked towards nest holes with greater accuracy. Bee fly Bombylius major on Flickr - Photo Sharing! |
11-04-2010, 09:02 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,421
| | | Re: Beefly behaviour
Thank you! Looking at the picture that is exactly what she was doing.  How interesting. |
11-04-2010, 09:34 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London
Posts: 1,011
| | | Re: Beefly behaviour
You're welcome Susie - they are fascinating insects aren't they. |
11-04-2010, 09:38 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,421
| | | Re: Beefly behaviour
They sure are. They're one of my favourite insects.  | | |
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