Ferruginous Bee-grabber

The benefit of having a rather wild, flower-rich garden full of bumblebees and solitary bees is the diversity of parasitic species they attract. The Ferruginous Bee-grabber is one of our commonest and most widespread conopid flies which can be found in a great variety of flowery habitats, wherever bumblebees are numerous. Females pounce on worker bumblebees and inject an egg into the bee abdomen using the specialised ovipositor. Recorded hosts include Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Common Carder Bee, White-tailed Bumblebee and Red-tailed Bumblebee, all of which share the garden with us. 


After feeling better yesterday, today has not been so good, especially for Pete who is now very chesty. I did a test this evening which was *very* positive so it's clear that we'll be missing Chris and Lizzy's formal marriage ceremony at Peterborough Registry Office tomorrow. Pete was supposed to be a witness but her parents will be there and they have found another witness, so at least everything can go ahead. It's a bit ironic that we caught Covid from Lizzy!