The Bee Fly, or Bombylius, is a frequent visitor to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. Mark Williams created this stunning feature all about this fascinating insect. Thank you to Mark for sharing this delightful video with us!

Bombylius (commonly named the large bee-fly or the dark-edged bee-fly) is a parasitic bee mimic fly. The fly derives its name from its close resemblance to bumblebees and are often mistaken for them. It exhibits a unique flight behavior known as “yawing” and plays a role in general pollination, without preference of flower types. The fly does not bite, sting, or spread disease. However, the fly uses this mimicry of bumblebees to its own advantage, allowing close access to host solitary bee and wasp nests in order to deposit its eggs. After hatching, the larvae find their way into the nests to parasitically feed on the grubs.

Mark Williams, a frequent visitor to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden, created this beautiful video from his observations at the garden this year and last. It showcases some of the great diversity of insects and plants you may find as you wander through the paths. Thank you to Mark for creating this delightful video of life at the garden.

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden website is off to a really late start this year, however we hope to make up for lost time with more postings and more photos than ever.   

Unfortunately we are unable to hold our usual Summer Series due to COVID-19, but we do hope to hold a modified Photo Contest – watch this website for further information.

We have been gardening since early April, getting the garden ready, pruning, separating perennials, removing invasive species and generally cleaning up.

We usually grow many of our annuals from nursery stock, but last year a decision was made to ask two local organic growers to grow plants from seed.  We also overwintered the Lantana and some of the Salvia Black and Blue.  The Lantana was planted at the UBG on June 5 and should be successful, but the Salvia did not fare so well.  This all means that many of our plants will not flower until later in the season.

We hope to see you at the Garden, and please share your photos with us!