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Bombyliidae is
one of the largest families of Diptera, with over 5,000
valid species described worldwide. Their high diversity may
be due to the parasitoid habit of the majority of their
larvae. Adults feed on nectar and pollen, and are believed
to be important pollinators of many plants, although few
species have been studied in detail. Bee flies occur on all
continents except Antarctica, however their highest
diversities occur in semi-arid and arid environments (Hull,
1973).
The family includes a wide variety of morphological forms,
such as the enormous Palirika marginicollis (Gray),
with irridescent green-blue body scales recalling those
found on the wings of a Morpho butterfly, and striking black
and hyaline wings spanning 45 mm; and the tiny, delicate,
humpbacked yellow and black species of Glabellula Bezzi
with hyaline wings and a body length about 1 mm. |
