Ferruginous bee-grabber (Sicus ferrugineus)

Here’s a complete natural history and identification overview of the Ferruginous Bee-grabber (Sicus ferrugineus), a striking parasitic fly commonly found in Europe’s meadows and hedgerows. 🐝🪰

🪰 Ferruginous Bee-grabber (Sicus ferrugineus)

Family: Conopidae (Thick-headed Flies)
Genus: Sicus
Common name: Ferruginous Bee-grabber, Thick-headed fly

🌍 General Overview

The Ferruginous Bee-grabber (Sicus ferrugineus) is a medium-sized, reddish-brown parasitic fly found throughout much of Europe and temperate Asia.
It is one of the most widespread and recognizable members of the Conopidae family, known for its bee-mimicking appearance and parasitic lifestyle — the larvae develop inside bumblebees (Bombus spp.), eventually killing the host.

This mimicry allows the fly to approach its hosts without alarming them, making it a remarkable example of aggressive mimicry in the insect world.

🧬 Identification

🆔 Key ID features:

• Entirely reddish-brown body
• Curved, swollen abdomen (unique within the genus)
• Bee-like appearance and behavior around flowers

🌸 Behavior and Ecology

• Activity period: Adults fly from May to September, peaking in mid-summer.
• Habitat: Found in flower-rich meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, and gardens.
• Feeding (adults): Visit flowers for nectar — especially thistles (Cirsium, Carduus), knapweeds (Centaurea), and scabious (Knautia, Scabiosa).
• Flight pattern: Strong, hovering flight; often seen around bumblebees and flower heads.

🪺 Life Cycle

🧠 Hosts: Mainly bumblebees (Bombus spp.), including:

• Bombus terrestris (Buff-tailed bumblebee)
• Bombus lapidarius (Red-tailed bumblebee)
• Bombus pascuorum (Common carder bee)

🌲 Habitat

• Preferred environments:
  • Flower-rich grasslands
  • Woodland clearings and edges
  • Roadside verges
  • Gardens with abundant wildflowers
• The presence of bumblebee populations is crucial for this species’ survival.

🧭 Distribution

• Range:
  Widespread across Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean, and east through Russia to western Asia.
• In northern Europe: Common in lowlands and moderate altitudes; less frequent in mountain zones.

📉 Conservation Status

🧠 Interesting Facts

• The genus name Sicus comes from Greek sikos (“fig”), likely referring to the species’ bulbous abdomen.
• Despite its parasitic nature, it plays a role in flower pollination, since adults regularly visit flowers.
• Females can insert eggs into a bee’s abdomen in less than one second — a highly specialized adaptation.
• It is harmless to humans and other insects apart from its specific bee hosts.

📊 Summary Table

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