Bee-like Hoverfly

Less apian in large ("L").

This sort of hoverfly (Eristalis tenax, I think) is easily mistaken for a bee, but give-aways include the single pair of wings and small drumstick-shaped halteres instead of the second pair of wings (i.e. they are dipteran flies), short club-shaped antennae with aristae (a bristle) which indicates that these are from the dipteran suborder Brachycera (in contrast to bees' long, slender antennae), and large, domed eyes (as opposed to more vertical, lozenge-shaped eyes). There are many more subtle visible differences (the mouthparts are very different, for example, but less easy to see). The antennae and wings are usually the clearest indicator.

I've written about it before, but this mimicry confers hoverflies with protection because predators are likely to mis-identify them as "protected" bees (they have a sting...) and so leave them alone. This sort of mimicry (where a harmless species mimics a harmful one) is called "Batesian mimicry".

I saw a very different sort of hoverfly in the garden too (posted here)! Two different hoverfly species in one December day?! What a treat. I think that the blipfolio one is a prettier species.

p.s. Is it just because of their feeding habits that these seem pretty whereas blow flies seem rather unappealing?