Do bee flies pollinate?

[cheops]

I was watching what I thought was a bee hovering over some apple blossom. I could see it barely touched the flower , rather it was using a very long 'tongue' as it hovered to gather nectar. I googled it and found I had been watching a bee fly. Do they pollinate the flowers? - it didn't look like it as it didn't go into the flower and brush against it etc. And nowhere could I find on the internet whether it pollinated flowers. Anyone know the answer?

[veggiechicken]

Behaviour | Natural History Museum
Says they feed on nectar and sometimes on pollen - so there's a chance of pollination, maybe

[rustylady]

Don't think so from the information I found. Quite a bit of interesting information here Bombylius major (large bee-fly) | Natural History Museum

[rustylady]

Snap VC

[veggiechicken]

Great minds, RL

[cheops]

Yeah I found lots of info on the net but nothing about whether they pollinate or not. Watching them I reckon they don't - so they cheat to look like bees so their young can prey on them and they cheat the blossom grrrr.
I did read they sound like bees too but watching them in my garden [yes there are lots of them] Ive not heard any buzzing - in fact they are silent. [silent but deadly you might say]

[veggiechicken]

But if they take pollen onto their "nose", move to the next flower and rub it off, they pollinated........or is there something about the birds and the bees I've missed out on

[cheops]

True. Perhaps they pollinate a wee bit here and there.

[veggiechicken]

Its just a sideline for them - they're just looking for grub by the sound of it!

[sammy_roser]

Thank you so much for posting this! I saw some of these creatures earlier in the year for the first time and wondered what the hell they were! I give bees a lot of respect in my garden and will move away to let them do there work but not these sneaky creatures.