What type of bug is this?

Question

It has the same color pattern as a bumble bee, but it is clearly something else. I believe it was around 1-1.5 inches long (I could be wrong). It was on the East Coast of the USA.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22131398@N05/2708323932/

Answer 1

Got the same question a while ago. It was a  Voracious bee-hunter, Read my answer here.  Hope it helps.

Answer 2

A deformed wasp

Answer 3

My first guess would be some kind of fly. The eyes look like those of a fly, I only see one pair of wings (possible halteres, but it's hard to tell from that picture) and definite fly mouthparts. The shape of the body leads me to think it's a robber fly. So, I'm going to go with Bee Mimic Robber Fly. Possibly Laphria vorax, but I can't be completely certain about the species without more information. However, here's a picture of L. vorax http://i.pbase.com/o6/86/683886/1/798502...

If it's not that exactly it's at least some kind of Bee Mimic Robber.

Answer 4

I think your photo is that of a Bee Fly.  If you look closely, a bee fly only has one set of wings.  That and the narrow abdoman are a dead give away.