Ornate Brigadier (Odontomyia ornata) found near the pond at Sheringham Park, Norfolk, today.

Fan-bristled Robberfly - Dysmachus trigonus and beetle prey #UKwildlife

Another dry spring in East Yorkshire...not the best for many insects, but Spring Heath Robberflies (Lasiopogon cinctus) are loving it out on the open, sandy grassland of Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve.🌞 @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social

There were good numbers of Black Colonel Soldierflies (Odontomyia tigrina) at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels today, but the star of the show was a female Ornate Brigadier (Odontomyia ornata). @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #bugsky

Dark-edged bee-fly on Lilac in Cambridge. 📷 #photography #Diptera #BeeFlyWatch

Double Bombylius major! Seen 17/03/26 Tamworth, #Staffs @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #beeflywatch

Apparently it's #WorldRobberflyDay what i think is a Kite-tailed and Hornet Robber flies

If it's #WorldRobberflyDay, then I'm going to dig out a photo of the mighty Asilus crabroniformis - in this instance, making more robberflies. At my old stamping grounds of Ranscombe Farm Reserve, back in 2022. #KentNature

The Hornet Robberfly (Asilus crabroniformis) Its World Robberfly day in Fly Week today So to celebrate my fav Robberfly had to be the pic. An amazingly large Robberfly, one of the largest flies in the UK #worldrobberflyday #flyweek #robberfly #asilidae

Two from Tunbridge Wells Common for #WorldRobberflyDay - Dysmachus trigonus and Neoitamus cyanurus

Happy #WorldRobberflyDay Everyone! Hers the video I made about my obsession with the Hornet Robberfly! (I was going to post it today but ended up posting it when I finished editing instead as I wanted to share!) www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gHN...

Almost didn't realise it was #WorldRobberflyDay, but luckily @ashwhiffin.bsky.social reminded me. Here's one of Britain's coolest insects to celebrate, the magnificent Laphria flava

So I missed #WorldRobberflyDay yesterday. I'm catching up with Pamponerus germanicus from Kenfig National Nature Reserve, also yesterday. I think her catch is a Sawfly. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk #Wales #Cymru

The soldierfly Microchrysa polita seen 29/04/26 Tamworth, #Staffs, my 1st soldierfly of the year I think @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #Diptera #fly

Stratiomys longicornis ♂ today in Bengeo, large nationally scarce aquatic soldierfly which is superb bee mimic. Very local coastal species which increasingly appears to be dispersing inland despite its halophilic requirements. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social #Stratiomyidae

Excellent to have such a thorough regional review available #robberflies #flies #diptera @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

While #BeeFlyWatch continues, it's great to see some of the other species in the soldierflies and allies group starting to emerge: we've also had reports of the soldierflies Black-horned Gem (Microchrysa polita) and Murky-legged Black Legionnaire (Beris chalybata) 👍

step out and immediatelly get greeted by ~HER~ #invertebrate #BeeFlyWatch

🪰 Plenty of Dark-edged Bee-flies out at Cwm Tips today ☀️ These fuzzy flies are nest parasites of ground-nesting bees, taking advantage of the strong mining bee population on site — a sign of a healthy ecosystem. Who doesn’t love a Bee-fly? 💚 #BeeFlyWatch #BeeFly #CoalToNature #GloiNatur #CwmTips

Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major, resting on a wood-chip in @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social today. #BeeFlyWatch #Diptera

A pair of Dark-edged bee-flies (Bombylius major) making more Dark-edged bee-flies today at Cardiff's Grangemoor Park. #BeeflyWatch

Me and my shadow. In-flight Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major, casting a shadow on my garden wall this afternoon. Cherry Hinton #Cambridge 🍒🏘️ #BeeFlyWatch #Diptera

Quick drawing a of a bee fly I did + a bee fly, Bombylius major, that I saw today! #bugs #insect #entomology #fly #beeflywatch #beefly #artist

It's Honest(l)y great for insects. Popular with Osmia cornuta, Anthophora plumipes and is prob responsible for extended garden sightings of Bombylius major this year. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #BeeFlyWatch

Very glad that other people are seeing more bee-flies than I am this year! #BeeFlyWatch

#PoorBeeflyPhoto Zoom in for #HumberheadLevels Bombylius major enjoying the sunny weather earlier today 😎 at least four individuals observed around #Yorkshire garden 🙂 #Entomology @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

There's still time to join us on Thursday to explore the colourful world of soldierflies www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soldierfli...

The latest recording scheme newsletter (no. 12) was sent out to members of @dipteristsforum.bsky.social recently, and is also available from the recording scheme web page dipterists.org.uk/soldierflies... - includes exciting news of a possible new Villa bee-fly species in the UK 🤩 1/2 ...

A couple more pictures of dark-edged bee-fly (Bombylius major). These were taken at Lower Failand, North Somerset last week (19.03.26). Entries now on iRecord. #BeeFlyWatch #invertebrate #insectphotography #ukwildlife @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

Good to see that people have been enjoying watching bee-flies for almost 400 years 😀 #BeeFlyWatch

Dark-edged Bee-fly, Bombylius major, this afternoon in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul Kedington #Suffolk #BeeFlyWatch #Diptera

A beautiful close-up of a Dark-edged Bee-fly, what a stunner! The lack of sightings of bee-flies this year was noted at the @ynuorg.bsky.social conference at the weekend. We hope to see more of these fluffy signs of spring during #BeeFlyWatch this season! @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

If you're within reach of Northamptonshire on Sat 16 May there's a soldierfly identification workshop with the Wildlife Trust: learn how to identify soldierflies using keys, specimens & microscopes (suitable for beginners & more experienced) www.wildlifebcn.org/events/2026-...

Looking forward to talking about the Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme at this conference, and catching up with lots of other interesting speakers

Dotted #BeeFlyWatch

Fly Research & Conservation Virtual Symposium 2026 Tue 23 Jun 2026 | Online | £30 or pay what you can Explore the latest fly ecology, conservation science & practical case studies. Live Q&A, expert talks & all resources available after the event 🌍 🧪 Book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981718540...

#BeeFlyWatch see thread for video clip as well 📹

I think this looks good for Dotted Bee-fly, the black hairs towards the tip of the abdomen can just be seen and there are some dots just visible on the wings 👍 - thanks for iRecording it!

Dark-edged Bee-fly Bombylius major, at Connah's Quay, Flintshire, yesterday (21.03.26). My first of the spring. #BeeFlyWatch

Bee-fly on a Cranesbill leaf this Thursday, Summerfield, Cambridge. #BeeFlyWatch #Diptera 📷 #photography

Always joyful to behold! Our first 2026 #gardenwildlife record of Bombylius discolor #Diptera #Bee-fly SE Hants VC11 @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social it wasn’t the only critter sunning itself this afternoon .. hence the opportunistic photo ;) #BeeFlyWatch

Bombylius discolor, dotted bee fly among the many B.Majors at Badbury Rings today. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social

Saw 10 Bombylius major at Badbury Rings today @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social