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Glite Dictionary
Bombyliidae

Bombyliidae

9.9
A hairy fly that looks like a bee and visits flowers
  • noun
  • /bɒmˈbɪliˌaɪdi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Bombyliidae
  • The Bombyliidae family includes many species that mimic bees.

Examples

  • Some gardeners welcome Bombyliidae because they are important pollinators.

  • A Bombyliidae can often be seen hovering near flowers.

  • Scientists observed several species of Bombyliidae hovering near the flowers.

  • The distinctive pattern and hairy bodies make Bombyliidae easy to recognize among insects.

  • Scientists observed several species of Bombyliidae hovering near the flowers.

  • Some gardeners welcome Bombyliidae because they are important pollinators.

  • The distinctive pattern and hairy bodies make Bombyliidae easy to recognize among insects.

Synonyms

bee fly
vsBombyliidae
8.7

A hairy fly that looks like a bee and whose young eat baby bees

refers to the whole taxonomic family rather than one species or individual

Surface Forms

Bombyliidae singular
Bombyliidaes plural

Morphology

Bombyliidae = Bombylius (opaque) = bombyli + idae

The family-forming suffix '-idae' is a specialized scientific affix; general learners cannot derive 'family of bee flies' from the parts without biological taxonomy knowledge.

Etymology

The word Bombyliidae comes from an old Greek word bombyx, which means 'silk'. So the name points to their soft, hairy, 'silky' bodies and their bee-like look, which is why they are called bee flies.