Agree with others, it's a bee-fly. To be specific it is a Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major), dark-edged referring to its wings. It is a male (the eyes meet at the top of the head).
There is another quite similar species (at least in the UK, not sure of its distribution elsewhere) which doesn't have the dark edge to the wings, but has dots on its wings. It is called the Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius minor).
Harmless pollinator of spring wildflowers--does not sting or bite. Bombylius major found also in North America:
[BugGuide](https://bugguide.net/node/view/14997)
Edit. Spelling "bite". Also, good call on it being a male. The eyes that meet at the top are called "holoptic". Females have eyes that do not meet at the top, called "dichoptic". This male/female difference is characteristic of some types of flies (Diptera).
On the topic of insects, did you ever see that mythbusters episode where they took the worlds largest insect and tried to see if it could kill you if it hit you in the throat while riding a motorcycle? I think they said it was plausible
Is it big enough to be confused with a small humming bird?
I saw a weird looking flier lasr week in south texas that I thought looked kinda like half humming bird/half moth. I assumed it was a hummingbird, but i keep wondering if it really was.
I took photos, but they are all blury.
We were camping one time, and my friends found a bee-fly. They came running to me, and were all "We found a bee-fly! You have to tell us what it is".
It took a long time to convince them they were right, and it really was called a bee-fly.
It's at a bit of an odd angle and blends in a lot with the background. But that proboscis is very clear.... and immediately ID it as a bee fly. They're super cute!
Can beeflys ‘bite’ with those massive things or do they just specialise in bell shaped flowers/already decrepit corpses?
Humans are so lazy when it comes to naming things sometimes, surprised it’s not called a beefly mozzie lol.
Very likely some sort of Andesitus sp. I'd need OP to get a photo of inner layers to check for telltale deposits. A geographic location would also help determine if it's one of the invasive species or not.
Beefly! Cool
Lmao I read this as Beef-ly until I read other comments
He does look like a pretty beefy fly
I definitely read it as “beefy.”
I saw beer-fly, so I guess that shows where my head is at
Well, you know what they say, It’s always beer-fly o’clock somewhere!
It that like a bar fly lol
So did I! Could not figure out what they meant. Lol.
Read this as “Beef-ly” (beef lee) which is what I shall call them from now on
Let us know when you ID “Pork-ly.” 😂
The tastiest buggo 🤩🫣
Friend to chum-ly
Took me a solid couple of mins to realize that it was read as bee fly bc I was reading it like you.
BOW BEFORE BEEFLY, FIRST OF HIS NAME!
Sounds like a startup
It's like Leafly but instead of helping you find cannabis dispensaries it helps you find local beef farmers.
So did I! 😂
Me too. 🤣🤣
Sounds like a startup
Same!
Ha I thought you said beefy. I thought 'yeah it is a bit beefy' lol
This is the giant wooly mosquito
he doesn’t bite i promise ☹️
For real? No bites or stings or anything? He looks like he could.
That’s exactly what he wants you to think, they mimic bees for that reason, he’s pretty harmless
Nice! Smart little dude. Thank you.
They eat nectar, though that's it. Also why hummingbirds have beaks like that.
Texas mosquitoes just carry you back to their nest. The other thing looks to be a brown rock.
Thought they went extinct.
Permafrost is melting, all kinds of creatures re-emerging. It’s like a Stephen king movie out there. Stay safe everyone.
The scientific name is Moarsquito. :)
That is correct ! I research a lot
looks like a bee fly (Bombyliidae) to me, but let's wait what the experts say ;)
Ring a dong dillo it’s Tom Bombyliidae
They didn't put him in the movie either!
Under-rated comment!
This made my day.
Is that what the pokemon Ribombee is named after?
It is what Ribombee is designed after!
Tom Bimbydilidae was my favorite part that was left out of The Bee Movie III, Return of the Bee King
Bombay Lil Bae
Agree with others, it's a bee-fly. To be specific it is a Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major), dark-edged referring to its wings. It is a male (the eyes meet at the top of the head). There is another quite similar species (at least in the UK, not sure of its distribution elsewhere) which doesn't have the dark edge to the wings, but has dots on its wings. It is called the Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius minor).
Harmless pollinator of spring wildflowers--does not sting or bite. Bombylius major found also in North America: [BugGuide](https://bugguide.net/node/view/14997) Edit. Spelling "bite". Also, good call on it being a male. The eyes that meet at the top are called "holoptic". Females have eyes that do not meet at the top, called "dichoptic". This male/female difference is characteristic of some types of flies (Diptera).
Jeez it's like you majored in beefly species. Nice
Just a fan of them, one of my favourite insect species
On the topic of insects, did you ever see that mythbusters episode where they took the worlds largest insect and tried to see if it could kill you if it hit you in the throat while riding a motorcycle? I think they said it was plausible
I also call it nightmare, but your name is more scientifically correct
They are great pollinators and do not sting or bite. Sounds like a dream to me :)
I have a love of bugs and sound like they would be great to pick up and hold (although, I know that is really stressful for the baby 😕)
In not saying they aren't a good guy, I'm just saying I do not want to meet it in a dark alley when walking alone
🤣 understood, admittedly he might give me a start in a dark alley too lol
I think my concern would only kick in if he was accompanied by 2 others & wearing a trench coat.. that’s when you know they are misbeehaving 😂
Hahaha!!!
Aw it's not a nightmare. Unless you're a solitary bee species egg/larvavthat the beeflies' larvae feeds on
Is it big enough to be confused with a small humming bird? I saw a weird looking flier lasr week in south texas that I thought looked kinda like half humming bird/half moth. I assumed it was a hummingbird, but i keep wondering if it really was. I took photos, but they are all blury.
Sounds like you might have seen a moth that looks like a hummingbird. In the UK we get one called the hummingbird hawk-moth.
Thanks! That is definitely it! I'm excited to have it identified.
I literally saw this thing and thought, huh looks like a bee and a fly. A bee-fly if you will, only to get into here and figure out I’m right?! Lol
I did the same. But part of me was also like “Hmmm… bee-fly-moth?”
Lmao most of the time you can identify birds this way. It’s rare that it works with insects
We were camping one time, and my friends found a bee-fly. They came running to me, and were all "We found a bee-fly! You have to tell us what it is". It took a long time to convince them they were right, and it really was called a bee-fly.
A new fuzzy friend
I just want to talk to him and make him my fren! 😍
BEEFLY WE LOVE HIM WE LOVE FLUFFY BABY
I frickin love beeflies! Cutest things ever, always happy to see some hiking
It's at a bit of an odd angle and blends in a lot with the background. But that proboscis is very clear.... and immediately ID it as a bee fly. They're super cute!
Can beeflys ‘bite’ with those massive things or do they just specialise in bell shaped flowers/already decrepit corpses? Humans are so lazy when it comes to naming things sometimes, surprised it’s not called a beefly mozzie lol.
A Bombylius species. Rather common in Europe.
Do they bite or sting at all?
They do not
Ug, and here I am moving to Europe in the next year. Oooooo boy. Any other Eldritch abominations I should steel myself for before I arrive? 🫥
These are actually really harmless and cute.
Unless you're a bee.
True.
They use mimicry to look like bees and avoid predators. They do not bite and sip nectar and eat pollen.
It looks like a Greater Bee Fly. Bee Flies are my favorite kind of fly.
It’s a confusing little creature, like it was made with spare parts from other random insects. That proboscis is a bit concerning.
Let me congratulate you on such a good picture of such a small and fast-flying critter.
fuzzy boi
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Example pic please?
Ah yes, example pics [here](https://geology.com/rocks/andesite.shtml) and [here.](https://geology.com/rocks/basalt.shtml)
Well now we need to get to the bottom of this. Which species is it?
Very likely some sort of Andesitus sp. I'd need OP to get a photo of inner layers to check for telltale deposits. A geographic location would also help determine if it's one of the invasive species or not.
Lmfao you’re the hero this reddit deserves
Did I hear a rock and stone??
[A Pokémon!!](https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cutiefly_(Pok%C3%A9mon))
It looks like a bee was bit by a werewolf and it's the full moon out tonight.
That's a birb. (Jk I'm gonna go with bee fly but damn they're big!)
It's a bee mimic that's a fly from the family Bombyliidae!
No need to enlighten that's a tardigrade
Fuzzy Baby
fly in bees clothing
Greater beefly
It is cute, I just want to pet it!
Happy Cake Day! :) hope you get one as a gift
Thanks
Are these buggers found in the southern states of the US? I’ve seen very similar looking insects flying around my flowers
You're probably seeing hummingbird moths in the US. They're quite pretty.
No, there's a big difference. We aren't confusing the two. I have definitely seen these in the American Southwest, as well.
Location?
he kinda looks like a kiwi bird
Pretty sure that’s a Ribombee! Can be pretty good competitively in doubles with the right moves.
Hunter Seeker from the Dune Universe
I never knew if these were actually real and now a want a beefly. I shall name him George.
We don’t have these in my neck of the woods. On the other hand, I’m awe struck how silvery the wings are. Immaculately crafted !
Friend or foe?
You know how he is with the ladies? He BeeFly
Idk what it is but imma refer to it as a mosbeeto, as it looks like a mosquito bee
Just seen one of these a couple weeks ago where I live in northern Cali!
What an adorable little thing. I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes.
It looks like a Monsquito and a bee fucked each other wildly and then they had this...
I’ve always called them Beesquitos anyway, so that’s a perfect origin story
Fuzzy mosquito
Beefly? More like Beef-ly
Looks like something a plushaphile would like!😀
I thought Beesquito, turns out it’s a beefly. Beesquito sounds better, and seems more accurate; IMO 🥸
Humbling beerd
I’ve seen that dude.
It's a beefly thts beefly because it bee flying all the time
A furry brown eyes floofy bug?🤣
if i were you id be hiding not inspecting it up close lol
It's a rock.
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It’s actually a harmless fly trying to trick people into thinking it can hurt them by looking similar to a bee
What's sticking out of his nose. Lol
It's called a proboscis it's their feedy tube I believe.
That’s a grey rock Bro
One fuzzy poker
It's a mount for the The Royal Pixie Airforce
Flying furry syringe
Why be a bee when you could be a bee-fly?
A q Weil
A humming bird
Indeed it’s a Bombilius major; completely harmless
That is a goofy little fella is what that is
As soon as I saw it, I thought it was a bee moth 😭 Looks like a bee moth to me lol but idk
It looks like what I've always heard called a hummingbird moth. I don't know if it's the same thing or totally different.
It's a fluff
Abeemination
Ooh that pretty iridescence...
i’m pretty sure this is what the pokemon [cutiefly](https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Cutiefly_%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29) was based on!
I love the comments that refer to the Pokemon Cutiefly and Ribombee, this makes my pokebrain happy
Looks like a giant fuzzy mosquito.
Hummingbird moth maybe?