Anthracini
Anthrax Bee Fly I
Anthrax Bee Fly II
Anthrax Bee Fly III
Anthrax Bee Fly IV
Villini
Villa Bee Fly
Villa Bee Fly 2 
 
 

                                               

Common Long-wings Bee FlyComptosia decedens

Family Bombyliidae

This page contains pictures and information about Common Long-wings Bee Flies in Subfamily Lomatiinae that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

Body length 16mm 
 
This Bee Fly was usually found laying eggs in soil during mid summer in Karawatha Forest. There are quite common there.
 
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They are usually found resting on the sandy footpath. Some are laying eggs with end tip of abdomen inserted into the soil. 
 
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The Bee Fly is dark brown in colour with golden yellow hairs on edge of thorax and abdomen. There are the hairs between each abdomen segment. The wings are clean but with tinted brown colour.
 
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Bee Fly larvae are parasitic on other insects' eggs or larvae. On the sandy footpaths in Karawatha Forest we sometimes saw grasshoppers laying eggs in soil. Some wasps also like to build their nest this under sandy footpaths. 
 

Reference:
1. Revision of the Australian bee fly genus Comptosia (Diptera : Bombyliidae) - D Yeates, Invertebrate Taxonomy, 5: 1023-1178,1991  

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Last updated: June 22, 2009.