How do you tell the difference between a fly and a bee? Here are a few differences:
- Wings: Flies have 2; bees have 4.
- Antennae: Flies have stubby antennae; bees have long.
- Eyes: Flies have big compound eyes; bees have simple eyes.
If you see a bee hovering about like a little helicopter, look again. Chances are that this little fellow has only 2 wings, stubby antennae, and big eyes. So, why does he look like a bee? That’s his clever disguise in nature called mimicry. Birds will not eat him for fear of getting stung. You don’t need to worry, however, as these flies do not have a device for stinging ergo they cannot sting. The wing of the Merodon equestris has a stocking pattern in the center of the back. See this example. http://bugguide.net/node/view/186525
Then, there are the carpenter bees which have infested our cedar siding house in recent years. The U. of Kentucky Ag website says: ” In the late-spring and early summer, homeowners often notice large, black bees hovering around the outside of their homes. … Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees, but the upper surface of their abdomen is bare and shiny black; bumble bees have a hairy abdomen with at least some yellow markings.”
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