Q: I found a bee-looking creature in my garden It has a fuzzy black body with yellow at the top, all indications of a bee, but with strange wings and a long snout!

A: It’s one of the bee flies. There are several species of this important pollinator, most of which have fuzzy bodies and fly-type wings. They sip flower nectar during the day and look for the nests of bumblebees or solitary wasps. Eggs are laid at the nest opening and when the prey has pupated underground, the bee fly larvae attacks. Like the fuzzy red/orange velvet ant, bee flies are predators of cicada killer wasps, which are numerous in August.

Bee Flies

bee fly

bee fly