Greater Bee Fly is reputed to be a nectar thief, making a cut in flower base to siphon off nectar without fertilizing the flower. This behavior is not in evidence here as it approaches this Carolina spring beauty on a late April afternoon along the South Rim trail of Fillmore Glen State Park.
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Instead, what we see is this fly using a long rigid proboscis, found in the front of the head, to probe and feed nectar from the flower base as would any other respectable bumblebee that is resembles and is commonly mistaken for.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
Never knew that! Thanks, Michael!
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My pleasure, Lynne
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He is a new species to me – very fuzzy and cute!
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In life, the Gerat Bee Fly moves too fast to may an impression. We have them here and I never knew it until I took this photograph.
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Fascinating! I learned something new. Thank you Michael.
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My pleasure, Richard
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