#1
In Switzerland (Tessin), in the village Mavaglia, I saw this small Bombylid. I wonder which species it is, I couln't find a good match in the gallery.
As said, this is a rather smallish species, say 6 - 8 mm. It looks like under undersized
Hemipenthes morio - except for the different wing coloration. Notice especially the small spot towards the tip of the wing. The tip of the abdomen seems whitish, wich is what I first thought. But it isn't; it is actually saw dust which the bee fly actively collected! Once I now the name, I promise to write a short article on this, since I also have photographs of the saw dust collecting fly!!
I saw the fly twice near a pile of wood chopped for burning. This wood is extensively used by bees and beetles. The beefly was sitting at and flying around this wood. On one day I also noticed an
Anthrax anthrax inspecting the wood - see second photograph.
#3
New info: according to Neal Evenhuis this is a species of
Anthrax.
The question now is, Which of the many in Switzerland?
