Dark-edged Bee-fly - Bombylius major

A strange looking insect with its furry body and patterned wings. The long proboscis is used for drinking nectar and the fly is totally harmless.

If you can observe the difference, please record whether the fly was male or female. Males' eyes touch on top of the head, females' eyes are widely separated. Males tend to peak two weeks in advance of females and it would be good to get more supporting data for this difference.

Gardens and hedgerows where it basks in sunny spots.

Spring.

Its larvae eat the larvae of bees and wasps in their nests.

Fairly common and widespread in Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.