The article celebrates the dark-edged bee-fly (Bombylius major), a remarkable insect found in temperate regions, notable for its striking appearance and unique behavior. This fly, often mistaken for a bee due to its buzzing sound and furry body, possesses only one pair of wings, allowing for agile hovering. The female bee-fly showcases unusual behaviors, including twerking to collect sand for camouflaging her eggs and hunting for bee nests to lay her eggs, revealing a complex life cycle that includes voracious larval stages. Erica McAlister's admiration for this species highlights its ecological importance and unique adaptations.
"Unlike a four-winged bee, this fly possesses a single pair of rapier sharp wings edged in black. This dynamic, angular flying pollinator is an acrobat, grasping petals with its front legs while continuing to hover in midair while it imbibes nectar with its dagger-like long black proboscis."
"The female lands on the ground and twerks to scoop up sand and gravel, which she uses as a protective coat and camouflage for her eggs. She cruises over solitary bees' nests and flicks out her eggs like bombs."
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