Many of the “bees” you see on flowers are actually flies: hover flies, drone flies and bee flies. Others are day-flying clearwing moths, and some are wasps. To tell them apart, check the wings and antennae. Bees and wasps have two pairs of wings and fairly long antennae; flies have only one pair of wings, very short stubby antennae, and big eyes that cover much of the head. Flies and moths can’t sting. Bees, wasps and hornets can.
The quick way to tell a bee from a lookalike #
| Feature | Bee | Wasp or hornet | Hover fly or drone fly | Bee fly | Clearwing moth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4, partly clear |
| Antennae | Medium, elbowed | Medium to long | Very short, stubby | Short | Thickened, club-like |
| Eyes | On the sides of the head | On the sides of the head | Huge, often meet at top | Large | Large |
| Body | Usually hairy | Smooth, shiny | Often glossy, less hairy | Very fuzzy, round | Fuzzy, stout |
| Waist | Narrow | Very narrow in most | No pinched waist | No pinched waist | No pinched waist |
| Flight | Moves flower to flower | Quick, often hunting | Hovers in place, darts sideways | Hovers, long straight beak | Hovers like a hummingbird |
| Can sting? | Yes (females) | Yes (females) | No | No | No |
A handy fact: only female bees and wasps can sting, since the stinger is a modified egg-laying organ. Males of every bee and wasp species are harmless, even when they buzz at you.
Hover flies (flower flies) #
Hover flies are the most common bee mimics in gardens. Many species have yellow and black bands that copy bees and wasps, which scares off predators. They’re true flies: they have a single functional pair of wings (the hind pair is reduced to tiny balancing organs), short antennae and big eyes. They can’t sting or bite.
They’re also some of the best insects you can have. Many hover fly larvae eat aphids, thrips and other sap-sucking pests, and the adults are considered the second most important pollinators after wild bees. Watch for the hovering: they hang perfectly still in the air, then zip sideways.
Drone flies #
The drone fly is a hover fly that looks remarkably like a honey bee: brown-orange, about the same size, and fond of the same flowers. The differences: it has two wings instead of four, no narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen, and very large eyes (in males, they nearly touch at the top of the head). Its larvae are “rat-tailed maggots” that live in stagnant, nutrient-rich water. It’s found on every continent except Antarctica.
Bee flies #
Bee flies are round and very fuzzy, like a tiny bumble bee, with a long, straight, needle-like beak they use to drink nectar. They hover low over the ground in spring, often with a dark pattern on their wings. They can’t sting; the beak is only for feeding.
Clearwing moths #
The hummingbird clearwing and snowberry clearwing are day-flying sphinx moths that hover at flowers and look like fat bumble bees at a glance. Their wings have clear, glassy patches edged in dark scales, their antennae thicken toward the tip, and they sip nectar with a long curled tongue. They’re harmless, and their caterpillars are hornworms.
Robber flies #
Some large robber flies are furry, yellow and black bumble bee mimics. Robber flies are predators that ambush other insects in mid-air. They’re not aggressive toward people but can bite if picked up, so leave them be.
Wasps and hornets: the lookalikes that do sting #
Yellow and black doesn’t always mean bee. Common stinging lookalikes:
- Yellowjackets: bright yellow and black, smooth and shiny, with a narrow waist. They nest in the ground or in walls, get interested in food and drinks in late summer, and defend their nests. They can sting more than once.
- Paper wasps: slender, with long legs that dangle in flight. They build open, umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves.
- Bald-faced hornets: black and white, building large, closed paper nests in trees and shrubs. Very defensive near the nest.
- European hornets: big, brown and yellow, and unusual in that they fly at night and come to lit windows.
- Cicada killers: huge, up to about 2 inches, with black and yellow bands, digging burrows in lawns in mid-summer. They look fearsome but rarely sting. See are cicada killers dangerous.
Bees that surprise people #
- Carpenter bees look like bumble bees but have a shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen. Males hover in front of people near nesting sites but can’t sting.
- Sweat bees are small and often metallic green. They’re attracted to perspiration and may sting mildly if trapped against skin.
If you get stung #
Most stings cause pain, redness and swelling that fade in a day or two. MedlinePlus, from the US National Library of Medicine, advises:
- Remove a stinger (honey bees often leave one) by scraping it sideways with the edge of a credit card or a fingernail. Don’t use tweezers, which can squeeze more venom in.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply ice wrapped in a washcloth, 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off.
- Use an antihistamine or anti-itch cream if needed, and watch for infection over the next few days.
Call 911 if the person has trouble breathing or wheezing, swelling of the face or mouth, throat tightness or difficulty swallowing, weakness, or turns blue. Use their epinephrine auto-injector if they carry one. For advice on a sting that isn’t an emergency, US Poison Control is free and confidential at 1-800-222-1222.
Why it’s worth knowing the difference #
Knowing which “bees” are flies saves the helpful ones from the swatter and tells you when you can relax around a flower bed. It also helps if you’re thinking about removing a nest: a ground nest of yellowjackets needs caution or a professional, while a lawn full of cicada killer burrows usually doesn’t. For more about garden helpers, see beneficial insects for the garden.
Identify it from a photo #
Bee lookalikes are exactly the kind of close call a photo app helps with, as long as you get a sharp shot showing the wings, antennae and eyes. A side view on a flower works best; see our bug photography guide.
Insect Identity knows a long list of bees and their mimics: the western honey bee, several bumble bees, the eastern carpenter bee, sweat bees and the blue orchard bee, alongside the common drone fly, marmalade hover fly, bee fly, hummingbird and snowberry clearwings, robber flies, yellowjackets, paper wasps, bald-faced and European hornets and the eastern cicada killer. It shows a best match with a confidence score and four runners-up, so a result like “honey bee, with drone fly close behind” tells you exactly which features to check. It works offline and keeps your photo on your phone. Don’t use any app to decide whether a sting needs treatment; follow the medical guidance above.
Frequently asked questions #
What looks like a bee but isn’t? #
Hover flies, drone flies, bee flies, clearwing moths and some robber flies are the common ones. Check for two wings (flies) versus four (bees and wasps), and look at the antennae: very short and stubby means a fly.
Can hover flies sting? #
No. Hover flies are true flies with no stinger. Their bee-like stripes are a disguise that fools predators. They’re harmless to people and helpful in gardens.
What is the difference between a bee and a wasp? #
Bees are usually hairy and stocky, feed on pollen and nectar, and carry pollen on their legs or bodies. Wasps are usually smooth, shiny and slender with a very narrow waist, and many hunt other insects. Both can sting.
Why is a fly that looks like a bee hovering around me? #
Hover flies and drone flies often hover near people and sometimes land on skin to drink sweat. They can’t sting or bite, so they’re safe to ignore or gently wave away.