Bee fly

Bee fly
Bee Bee (b[=e]), n. [AS. be['o]; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b[=y], Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) An insect of the order {Hymenoptera}, and family {Apid[ae]} (the honeybees), or family {Andrenid[ae]} (the solitary bees.) See {Honeybee}. [1913 Webster]

Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee ({Apis mellifica}) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren females. Besides the {Apis mellifica} there are other species and varieties of honeybees, as the {Apis ligustica} of Spain and Italy; the {Apis Indica} of India; the {Apis fasciata} of Egypt. The {bumblebee} is a species of {Bombus}. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to {Melipoma} and {Trigona}. [1913 Webster]

2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking bee; a raising bee. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]

The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. --S. G. Goodrich. [1913 Webster]

3. pl. [Prob. fr. AS. be['a]h ring, fr. b?gan to bend. See 1st {Bow}.] (Naut.) Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also {bee blocks}. [1913 Webster]

{Bee beetle} (Zo["o]l.), a beetle ({Trichodes apiarius}) parasitic in beehives.

{Bee bird} (Zo["o]l.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European flycatcher, and the American kingbird.

{Bee flower} (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus {Ophrys} ({Ophrys apifera}), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and other insects.

{Bee fly} (Zo["o]l.), a two winged fly of the family {Bombyliid[ae]}. Some species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees.

{Bee garden}, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in; an apiary. --Mortimer.

{Bee glue}, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also {propolis}.

{Bee hawk} (Zo["o]l.), the honey buzzard.

{Bee killer} (Zo["o]l.), a large two-winged fly of the family {Asilid[ae]} (esp. {Trupanea apivora}) which feeds upon the honeybee. See {Robber fly}.

{Bee louse} (Zo["o]l.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect ({Braula c[ae]ca}) parasitic on hive bees.

{Bee martin} (Zo["o]l.), the kingbird ({Tyrannus Carolinensis}) which occasionally feeds on bees.

{Bee moth} (Zo["o]l.), a moth ({Galleria cereana}) whose larv[ae] feed on honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives.

{Bee wolf} (Zo["o]l.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of {Bee beetle}.

{To have a bee in the head} or {To have a bee in the bonnet}. (a) To be choleric. [Obs.] (b) To be restless or uneasy. --B. Jonson. (c) To be full of fancies; to be a little crazy. ``She's whiles crack-brained, and has a bee in her head.'' --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bee fly — ee fly (b[=e] fl[imac] ), n. any dipterous insect of the family {Bombyliidae}, which eat nectar and in some cases resemble bees. Their larvae are parasitic on the larvae of bees and other insects. [WordNet 1.5 + PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bee fly — bee′ fly n. ent any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Bombyliidae, some of which resemble bees • Etymology: 1850–55, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • bee fly — ☆ bee fly n. any of a family (Bombyliidae) of dipterous flies that look like bees and feed on nectar and pollen …   English World dictionary

  • bee fly — noun hairy nectar eating fly that resembles a bee; larvae are parasitic on larvae of bees and related insects • Hypernyms: ↑fly • Member Holonyms: ↑Bombyliidae, ↑family Bombyliidae * * * noun 1. : any of numerous flies constituting a family ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • bee fly — any of numerous dipterous insects of the family Bombyliidae, some of which resemble bees. [1850 55, Amer.] * * * ▪ insect  any insect of the family Bombyliidae (order Diptera). Many resemble bees, and most have long proboscises (feeding organs)… …   Universalium

  • bee fly — noun a squat, hairy bee like fly whose larvae are generally parasites of bees and wasps. [Family Bombyllidae: many species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • bee-fly — /ˈbi flaɪ/ (say bee fluy) noun any fly of the dipterous family Bombyliidae, members of which more or less resemble bees …  

  • bee fly — noun Date: 1753 any of a family (Bombyliidae) of dipteran flies many of which resemble bees …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Bee — (b[=e]), n. [AS. be[ o]; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b[=y], Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) An insect of the order {Hymenoptera}, and family {Apid[ae]} (the honeybees),… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bee beetle — Bee Bee (b[=e]), n. [AS. be[ o]; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b[=y], Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. [root]97.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) An insect of the order {Hymenoptera}, and family {Apid[ae]} (the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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