Why does that bee look strange? Well, because it might not be a bee! Learn about bee flies, the mimics you didn't know were in your garden.
Meet the Bee Flies: Look-Alike Bee Mimics
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Ask the Experts: What Are Bee Flies?
“What is this strange insect on my plumbago? Is it a pollinator?” asks Birds & Blooms reader Caitlin Buelow of Vail, Arizona.
Birds & Blooms experts Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman say, “This appears to be a member of the family Bombyliidae, commonly known as bee flies. There are at least 800 species of bee flies in North America. They are completely harmless to humans, and despite their resemblance to bees, they don’t sting. That long extended ‘beak’ is used for sipping nectar, not for biting. Many are regular visitors to flowers, and they probably help pollinate blooms at least part of the time.
See more are beneficial garden bees you want to see in your yard.
What Do Bee Flies Look Like?
As Kenn and Kimberly wrote, there are hundreds of species of bee flies in North America. While it can be difficult to distinguish them from bees at a quick glance, a few distinct differences separate them. To identify a bee fly, look for a single set of wings (two, rather than four), short antennae, and compound, close-together eyes. While many resemble bees or wasps, others mimic mosquitoes.
Do Bee Flies Sting?
In any case, as Kenn and Kimberly highlighted, they do not sting or bite. Mimicking bees simply allows them to avoid predators.
What Do Bee Flies Eat?
They fly by hovering and rarely land on flowers, instead feeding by extending their long proboscis. Interestingly, bee fly fossils have been dated back to 140 million years ago.
These insects tend to stop by coneflowers and asters, although they’ll also visit lilacs, or apple or plum blossoms. Some sip nectar to feed as adults, while others, such as the spotted bee fly, do not eat after reaching maturity.
Bee Flies Are Parasitic Insects
While they reproduce by parasitism — the first stages of a bee fly’s life include being flung into the nest of a cutworm, grasshopper, beetle, or moth, where they then grow by feeding on their host — that somewhat unpleasant reproductive method helps keep insect populations in check.
Next, find out how to identify that green bee in your garden.
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