Insects That Look Like Bees
None of the insects pictured above are bees but actually flies that are mimicking bees or in the case of the first picture mimicking a wasp.
Insects that look like bees. Most flies that resemble bees have short three segmented antennae while bees have longer cylindrical antennae of 12 female or 13 male segments. Masters of disguise they also feed from the same flowers with a jerky hovering flight. Some flies especially bee flies can be hairy like honey bees figure 2 bumble bees and digger bees and can hover and move quickly from flower to flower while foraging just like bees. Some examples of bee mimics described are hover flies bee flies yellowjackets hornets paper wasps and hummingbird moths.
Some flies especially bee flies can be hairy like honey bees figure 2 bumble bees and digger bees and can hover and move quickly from flower to flower while foraging just like bees. You absolutely cant miss their long proboscis or tongue. Most flies that resemble bees have short three segmented antennae while bees have longer cylindrical antennae of 12 female or 13 male segments. Many insects look and even sound like bees in our gardens and yards.
These brown hairy flies look rather like brown carder bumblebees and male hairy footed flower bees.