Ever seen a Humming Bumble Fly??

Question

OK, I have been seeing this flying buggars in my flower garden for years....they are VERY camera shy. I was finally able to get the two pics Ive linked to the other day after literally years of trying. They "hover" at flowers and have wings that move like a Hummer, but are colored like a Bumble Bee, but have long antena, like a Butterfly.

Anyone know what these critters are? Besides the Humming Bumble Fly name , that my daughter and I came up with. :-)

Here are the two pics

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg161/Anora_08/6-20-08030.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg161/Anora_08/6-20-08029.jpg

Answer 1

try calling the autoban society and send them the pics. Im sure they will know.

But they are cool looking

Answer 2

It's a hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe).  There are several types and they are all pretty neat.  They flit around a lot but if you are careful you can often pet them :)  I've got a bunch in my garden.

Answer 3

I've never seen this bee impostor before, but there are two very distinctive features that scream "MOTH!" to me.  The atennaes for one, and the patch of fur on the upper back, for two.  Only moths have that patch of fur - NO OTHER BUG has it.  Well, there's a third feature.  The shape of the wings are that of moths.  Bees have a more rounder set.  I very nearly thought it was a butterfly, but I remembered that moths never have skinny atennaes with a 'pin-head' on the top of each - anything thicker or feathery, but never the skinny pin ones.  The fur on the back was a huge giveaway, tho.

There IS another bee impostor I've seen, and it's all over my place.  It's only a wee bit bigger than a gnat, but it's colored the same and flies the same.  Both the moth and gnat have two things in common - they have the same deceptive practices.  They WANT their predators to think they can actually sting.  Result - they live longer.  

Now, in which area are you in the US?  I know for sure we never get the bee moths in Illinois!

Good one!

Answer 4

Maybe it is a queen or king bee.