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Bombylius venosus

Numerous flies don't want to look like a fly at all. The beeflies for instance pretend to be bees. Enemies often leave bees alone, for they can sting. By mimicing a bee as well the bee fly hopes for the same respect predators have for real bees. This is a small family of very hairy, rather big flies, that are excellent flyers. In our garden this species appears in late spring. It probably is Bombylius venosus, one of three similar species having unmarked wings. All three species are quite rare, but sometimes locally common, both in Holland and in Britain.