At first glance, it is not obvious that the anthracite Bee-fly (Anthrax anthrax) is related to the large bee fly. Not only because it is considerably larger, reaching a length of up to 13 millimetres.
The larvae live as parasites in the nest tubes of wild bees. The flies can be seen from March to June. I found the specimen shown here in mid-August.
The anthracite Bee-fly is native to Asia Minor, North Africa and Europe. It lives where there are wild bees and colonises meadows, reservoirs, parks, gardens or forest edges.
The larvae feed on bee larvae and the flies on nectar.
Categories: Insects