Bee Look-Alikes
There are many regular flower-visiting insects—flies, wasps, beetles, moths, and more—with similar coloration, shape, and behaviors of bees. This mimicry provides these insects protection from potential predators such as birds or predatory insects since they look like a stinging insect. It is easy to mistake a fly, wasp, moth, or other insect for a bee. See the traits and characteristics below to become versed in how to tell these insects apart:
TRAIT | BEE | WASP | FLY |
|---|---|---|---|
SHAPE | compact | elongate | compact |
WAIST | robust | narrow | none |
HAIRY | usually | rarely | sometimes |
WINGS | 4 wings, 2 pairs | 4 wings, 2 pairs | 2 wings |
ANTENNAE | long | long | short |
EYES | side of head | side of head | encompass whole head |
HIND LEG BASITARSUS | wide | narrow | variable |
POLLEN-COLLECTING STRUCTURES | most females | no | no |
LARVAL DIET | pollen, nectar | insects, spiders | many food sources |
FLY
compact shape
not hairy
short antennae
two wings
no defined waist
large eyes
no pollen-collecting structures
WASP
elongated shape
somewhat hairy
long antennae
four wings
defined waist
eyes on side of head
no pollen-collecting structures
WASP
elongate shape
not hairy
long antennae
four wings
defined waist
eyes on side of head
no pollen-collecting structures
BEE
compact shape
hairy
long antennae
four wings
defined waist
eyes on side of head
pollen-collecting structures (hind leg)
Insect Mimic Quiz
Ready to test your ID skills? Hover over each photo below for the correct answer.
1. Bumble Bee or Not?
Moth
Sphinx moth (Hemaris)
Flower Fly
Mallota bautias (Syrphidae)
Fly
Laphria thoracica (robber fly)
2. Green Insects
Wasp
Cuckoo wasp (Chrysididae)
Green Sweat Bee
Augochlora pura
Fly
Green bottle fly (Calliphoridae)
3. Insects With Red/Orange Abdomens
Bee
Sphecodes
(blood bee)
Flower Fly
Paragus (Syrphidae)
Wasp
Astata (Crabronidae)
4. Honey Bee-Like Insects
Drone Fly
Eristalis (Syrphidae)
Bee Fly
Poecilanthrax (Bombyliidae)
Bee
Apis mellifera (honey bee)
5. Black and Yellow Insects
Flower Fly
Somula (Syrphidae)
Resin Bee
Paranthidium (Megachilidae)
Flower Fly
Helophilus (Syrphidae)
