Downland Bee-fly
Villa cingulata
The Downland Bee-fly (Villa cingulata) is a distinctive parasitoid fly species characterized by its robust, furry body and long proboscis used for nectar feeding. Adults are important pollinators of wildflowers, while their larvae parasitize the nests of solitary bees and wasps, playing a crucial role in regulating host populations within chalk grassland ecosystems.
23
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) aggranada, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by aggranada
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Diptera
Family
Bombyliidae
Genus
Villa
Downland Bee-fly belongs to the family Bombyliidae, order Diptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
The Downland Bee-fly (Villa cingulata) is a distinctive parasitoid fly species characterized by its robust, furry body and long proboscis used for nectar feeding. Adults are important pollinators of wildflowers, while their larvae parasitize the nests of solitary bees and wasps, playing a crucial role in regulating host populations within chalk grassland ecosystems.
The Downland Bee-fly faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation of its specialized chalk downland and limestone grassland environments. Agricultural intensification, urban development, and changes in traditional grazing practices have reduced the availability of suitable habitat and the diverse wildflower communities this species depends on for nectar sources.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits chalk downlands, limestone grasslands, and calcareous slopes with abundant wildflowers, particularly favoring areas with short turf and diverse flowering plants. Also found in coastal dunes, quarries, and other open calcareous habitats with suitable nectar sources and bare ground for ground-nesting activities.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Decline in wildflower diversity
Fragmentation of chalk downland habitats
Loss of traditional grazing management
Found in 23 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Downland Bee-fly (Villa cingulata). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/downland-bee-fly