Bombyliidae is a large family

Family

In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...

 of flies

Fly

True flies are insects of the order Diptera . They possess a pair of wings on the mesothorax and a pair of halteres, derived from the hind wings, on the metathorax...

 with hundreds of genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

, although their life cycles are not well known. Adults generally feed on nectar and pollen

Pollen

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...

, thus are pollinator

Pollinator

A pollinator is the biotic agent that moves pollen from the male anthers of a flower to the female stigma of a flower to accomplish fertilization or syngamy of the female gamete in the ovule of the flower by the male gamete from the pollen grain...

s of flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...

s. They superficially resemble bee

Bee

Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...

s, thus are commonly called bee flies, and this may offer the adults some protection from predators. In parts of East Anglia locals refer to them as 'beewhals', thanks to their tusk-like appendages.

The larval stages are predators or parasitoid

Parasitoid

A parasitoid is an organism that spends a significant portion of its life history attached to or within a single host organism in a relationship that is in essence parasitic; unlike a true parasite, however, it ultimately sterilises or kills, and sometimes consumes, the host...

s of other insect eggs and larva

Larva

A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...

e. The adult females usually deposit eggs in the vicinity of possible hosts, quite often in the burrows of beetle

Beetle

Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...

s or wasp

Wasp

The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...

s/solitary bees. Where most often in the insect world parasitoids are highly specific in the host species that they will infect, some bombyliids are opportunistic and will use a variety of hosts.

While bombyliids have a great variety of species, rarely are individuals of any one species abundant, and this is perhaps one of the poorest known families of insect

Insect

Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...

s relative to its size. There are at least 4,500 described species, and probably thousands as of yet undescribed.

Species include:

• Major bee-fly (Bombylius major
  Bombylius major
  The large bee fly, Bombylius major, is a bee mimic. The eggs are flicked by the adult female toward the entrance of the underground nests of solitary bees and wasps...
  
  )
• Williston's bee-fly
  Poecilanthrax willistoni
  Poecilanthrax willistoni, Williston's bee fly or sand dune bee fly, is a member of the Bombyliidae insect family. This family includes the bee flies, true flies that have developed Batesian mimicry characteristics to avoid predators. That is, they look like bees because that helps them avoid...
  
   (Poecilanthrax willistoni)
• Alkali bee fly (Heterostylum robustum)

Genera

• Acanthogeron Bezzi, 1925
• Acreophthiria Evenhuis, 1986
• Acreotrichus Macquart, 1840
• Acrophthalmyda Bigot, 1858
• Adelidea Macquart, 1840
• Adelogenys Hesse
  Albert John Hesse
  Albert John Hesse was a South African entomologist.He was a curator at the Iziko South African Museum for fifty one years. Hesse worked primarily on Bombyliidae and Mydidae....
  
  , 1938
• Aldrichia Coquillett, 1894
• Alepidophora Cockerell, 1909
• Aleucosia Edwards, 1934
• Alomatia Cockerell, 1914
• Amictites Hennig, 1966
• Amictus Wiedemann
  Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann
  Christian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann , was a German physician, historian, naturalist and entomologist...
  
  , 1817
• Amphicosmus Coquillett, 1891
• Anastoechus Osten-Sacken, 1877
• Anisotamia Macquart, 1840
• Anthrax
  Anthrax (fly)
  Anthrax is a genus of bombyliid flies, commonly known as "bee-flies" due to their resemblance to bees. Most are dull black flies, and are usually small to medium in size, , and many species have striking wing patterns....
  
  Scopoli, 1763
• Antonia Loew, 1856
• Antoniaustralia Becker, 1913
• Apatomyza Wiedemann, 1820
• Aphoebantus Loew
  Hermann Loew
  Friedrich Hermann Loew was a German entomologist who specialised in the study of Diptera, an order of insects including flies, mosquitoes, gnats and midges...
  
  , 1872
• Apolysis Loew, 1860
• Astrophanes Osten Sacken, 1877
• Atrichochira
  Atrichochira
  Atrichochira is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . There are four described species, two from Southern Africa and two from western Australia...
  
  Hesse, 1956
• Australiphthiria Evenhuis, 1986
• Australoechus Greathead, 1995
• Balaana
  Balaana
  Balaana is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . There are about seven described species, including three from western Australia...
  
  Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Beckerellus Greathead, 1995
• Bombomyia Greathead, 1995
• Bombylella Greathead, 1995
• Bombylisoma Rondani, 1856
• Bombylius
  Bombylius
  Bombylius is a large genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae, known as the bee-flies, due to their striking resemblance to bees and bumblebees, and are distributed through environments world-wide....
  
  Linnaeus, 1758
• Brachyanax Evenhuis, 1981
• Brachydemia Hull, 1973
• Bromoglycis Hull, 1971
• Brychosoma Hull, 1973
• Bryodemina Hull, 1973
• Cacoplox Hull, 1970
• Caecanthrax Greathead, 1981
• Callostoma Macquart, 1840
• Callynthrophora Schiner, 1868
• Canariellum Strand, 1928
• Chalcochiton Loew, 1844
• Choristus Walker, 1852
• Chrysanthrax Osten Sacken, 1886
• Colossoptera Hull, 1973
• Comptosia Macquart, 1840
• Conomyza Hesse, 1956
• Cononedys Hermann, 1907
• Conophorina Becker, 1920
• Conophorus Meigen, 1803
• Corsomyza Wiedemann, 1820
• Coryprosopa Hesse, 1956
• Crocidium Loew, 1860
• Cryomyia Hull, 1973
• Cyananthrax Painter, 1959
• Cyllenia Latreille, 1802
• Cyrtomyia Bigot, 1892
• Cytherea Fabricius, 1794
• Cyx Evenhuis, 1993
• Dasypalpus Macquart, 1840
• Desmatomyia Williston, 1895
• Desmatoneura Williston, 1895
• Deusopora Hull, 1971
• Diatropomma Bowden, 1962
• Dicranoclista Bezzi, 1924
• Diochanthrax Hall, 1975
• Dipalta
  Dipalta
  Dipalta is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . The genus is closely related to Villa-Description:Medium sized flies, with a conical face. and 3 marginal wing cells, on mottled wings with erratic wing vaination. Wing length 10-13mm, body length 9-10mm...
  
  Osten Sacken, 1877
• Diplocampta Schiner, 1868
• Dischistus Loew, 1855
• Docidomyia White, 1916
• Doddosia Edwards, 1934
• Dolichomyia Wiedemann, 1830
• Doliogethys Hesse, 1938
• Eclimus Loew, 1844
• Edmundiella Becker, 1915
• Efflatounia Bezzi, 1925
• Enica Macquart, 1834
• Epacmoides Hesse, 1956
• Epacmus Osten Sacken, 1886
• Eremyia Greathead, 1996

• Eristalopsis Evenhuis, 1985
• Eucessia Coquillett, 1886
• Euchariomyia Bigot, 1888
• Euprepina Hull, 1971
• Eurycarenus Loew, 1860
• Euryphthiria Evenhuis, 1986
• Eusurbus Roberts, 1929
• Exechohypopion Evenhuis, 1991
• Exepacmus Coquillett, 1894
• Exhyalanthrax
  Exhyalanthrax
  Exhyalanthrax is a small genus of bombyliid flies. Bombyliids are commonly known as bee flies due to their resemblance to bees.-Species List:*E. abruptus *E. afer *E. argentifer Becker 1916...
  
  Becker, 1916
• Exoprosopa
  Exoprosopa
  Exoprosopa is a worldwide genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . -Description:They are mostly large flies, of about 14mm, sometimes larger, up to 22mm, though a few species are as small as 6mm. This genus contains the largest bee flies. The head is large and only loosely attached to...
  
  Macquart, 1840
• Geminaria Coquillett, 1894
• Geron Meigen, 1820
• Glaesamictus Hennig, 1966
• Gnumyia Bezzi, 1921
• Gonarthrus Bezzi, 1921
• Gyrocraspedum Becker, 1913
• Hallidia Hull, 1970
• Hemipenthes
  Hemipenthes
  Hemipenthes is a large genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . There are many described species, distributed throughout the Holarctic and Palearctic Ecozones. These are small to large robust flies with a body length of 5–14 mm...
  
  Loew, 1869
• Heteralonia Rondani, 1863
• Heterostylum
  Heterostylum
  Heterostylum is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . There are 14 described species, distributed throughout the Americas. These are robust and very hairy flies with a body length of 10–15 mm...
  
  Macquart, 1848
• Heterotropus Loew, 1873
• Hyperalonia Rondani, 1863
• Hyperusia Bezzi, 1921
• Inyo Hall & Evenhuis, 1987
• Isocnemus Bezzi, 1924
• Kapu Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Karakumia Paramonov, 1927
• Laminanthrax Greathead, 1967
• Larrpana Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Laurella Hull, 1971
• Legnotomyia Bezzi, 1902
• Lepidanthrax Osten Sacken, 1886
• Lepidochlanus Hesse, 1938
• Lepidophora Westwood, 1835
• Ligyra Newman, 1841
• Litorhina Bowden, 1975
• Lomatia Meigen, 1822
• Lordotus Loew, 1863
• Macrocondyla Rondani, 1863
• Mallophthiria Edwards, 1930
• Mancia Coquillett, 1886
• Mandella Evenhuis, 1983
• Mariobezzia Becker, 1913
• Marleyimyia Hesse, 1956
• Marmosoma White, 1916
• Megapalpus Macquart, 1834
• Megaphthiria Hall, 1976
• Melanderella Cockerell, 1909
• Meomyia Evenhuis, 1983
• Metacosmus Coquillett, 1891
• Micomitra Bowden, 1964
• Munjua Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Muscatheres Evenhuis, 1986
• Muwarna Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Myonema Roberts, 1929
• Neacreotrichus Cockerell, 1917
• Nectaropota Philippi, 1865
• Neobombylodes Evenhuis, 1978
• Neodiplocampta Curran, 1934
• Neodischistus Painter, 1933
• Neosardus Roberts, 1929
• Nomalonia Rondani, 1863
• Nothoschistus Bowden, 1985
• Notolomatia Greathead, 1998
• Oestranthrax Bezzi, 1921
• Oestrimyza Hull, 1973
• Ogcodocera Macquart, 1840
• Oligodranes Loew, 1844
• Oncodosia Edwards, 1937
• Oniromyia Bezzi, 1921
• Othniomyia Hesse, 1938
• Pachyanthrax François, 1964
• Pachysystropus Cockerell, 1909
• Palaeoamictus Meunier, 1916
• Palaeogeron Meunier, 1915
• Palintonus François, 1964
• Palrika Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Pantarbes Osten Sacken, 1877

• Pantostomus Bezzi, 1921
• Paracorsomyza Hennig, 1966
• Paradiplocampta Hall, 1975
• Parachistus Greathead, 1980
• Paracosmus Osten Sacken, 1877
• Parageron Paramonov, 1929
• Paranthrax Bigot, 1876
• Parasysteochus Hall, 1976
• Paratoxophora Engel, 1936
• Paravilla Painter, 1933
• Parisus Walker, 1852
• Perengueyimyia Bigot, 1886
• Petrorossia Bezzi, 1908
• Phthiria Meigen, 1803
• Pilosia Hull, 1973
• Pipunculopsis Bezzi, 1925
• Platamomyia Brèthes, 1925
• Plesiocera Macquart, 1840
• Poecilanthrax
  Poecilanthrax
  Poecilanthrax is a large, primarily Nearctic genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae .These are large to large robust flies with a body length of 8–14 mm. They have large elongate pictured wings, with 2 or 3 submarginal cells and no vein M2. The abdomen is moderately lengthened,...
  
  Osten Sacken, 1886
• Poecilognathus Jaennicke, 1867
• Praecytherea Théobald, 1937
• Prorachthes Loew, 1868
• Prorostoma Hesse, 1956
• Prothaplocnemis Bezzi, 1925
• Pseudopenthes Roberts, 1928
• Pteraulacodes Hesse, 1956
• Pteraulax Bezzi, 1921
• Pterobates Bezzi, 1921
• Pusilla Paramonov, 1954
• Pygocona Hull, 1973
• Relictiphthiria Evenhuis, 1986
• Rhynchanthrax Painter, 1933
• Satyramoeba Sack, 1909
• Semiramis Becker, 1913
• Semistoechus Hall, 1976
• Sericosoma Macquart, 1850
• Sericothrix Hall, 1976
• Sericusia Edwards, 1937
• Sinaia Becker, 1916
• Sisyromyia White, 1916
• Sisyrophanus Karsch, 1886
• Sosiomyia Bezzi, 1921
• Sparnopolius Loew, 1855
• Sphenoidoptera Williston, 1901
• Spogostylum Macquart, 1840
• Staurostichus Hull, 1973
• Stomylomyia Bigot, 1888
• Stonyx Osten Sacken, 1886
• Synthesia Bezzi, 1921
• Systoechus Loew, 1855
• Systropus Wiedemann, 1820
• Thevenetimyia Bigot, 1875
• Thraxan Yeates & Lambkin, 1998
• Thyridanthrax Osten Sacken, 1886
• Tillyardomyia Tonnoir, 1927
• Timiomyia Evenhuis, 1978
• Tithonomyia Evenhuis, 1984
• Tmemophlebia Evenhuis, 1986
• Tomomyza Wiedemann, 1820
• Tovlinius Zaitzev, 1979
• Toxophora
  Toxophora
  Toxophora is a genus of flies belonging to the family Bombyliidae . There are 14 described species, distributed throughout the world, although they are most abundant in Southwestern United States and western Mediterranean. They are strange, stout, robust flies with a hunchbacked form, with a body...
  
  Meigen, 1803
• Triplasius Loew, 1855
• Triploechus Edwards, 1937
• Turkmeniella Paramonov, 1940
• Usia Latreille, 1802
• Veribubo Evenhuis, 1978
• Verrallites Cockerell, 1913
• Villa
  Villa (insect)
  Villa is a genus of flies belonging to the bee-fly family . They range in size from , and have typically rounded heads. The males of some species have a brilliant mat of silvery patagial scales. Villa species are found on all continents except Antarctica...
  
  Lioy, 1864
• Villoestrus Paramonov, 1931
• Walkeromyia Paramonov, 1934
• Wurda Lambkin & Yeates, 2003
• Xenoprosopa Hesse, 1956
• Xenox Evenhuis, 1984
• Xerachistus Greathead, 1995
• Xeramoeba Hesse, 1956
• Ylasoia Speiser
  Paul Gustav Eduard Speiser
  Paul Gustav Eduard Speiser was a German entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was first a physician then a Medizinalrat, a medical adviser to a district.He worked on world Diptera, especially...
  
  , 1920
• Zaclava Hull, 1973
• Zinnomyia Hesse, 1955
• Zyxmyia Bowden, 1960

External links

• Image Gallery from Diptera.info
• Bee flies of North America - diagnostic photographs, natural history
• Bee fly - Lepidophora lepidocera large format photographs, descriptions, natural history
• Bee fly Bombylius major
• Bee fly Aldrichia sp.
• Bee fly - Anthrax sp.
• Bee fly Villa sp.
• BioLib Bombyliidae taxon tree
• Bombyliidae (Bee Flies) by David K. Yeates and Christine L. Lambkin in the Tree of Life web project. Consulted March 28, 2007.