Latley I have been seeing these flying insects that look like bees but are
quite a bit fatter, and have black and white stripes instead of the usual
yellow. Anyhow, I was deadheading my butterfly bush and its covered with lots
of big fat bumble bees, and the above described insects are actually flying
arround the shrub and hunting them out. When they come across a bumble bee,
they fly into them and knock them completley off of the flower! I saw this
happen several times and it was not just some random thing. Anyone know what
the heck is going on? Im kind of curious.

Toad

Marley1372 wrote:

Latley I have been seeing these flying insects that look like bees but are
quite a bit fatter, and have black and white stripes instead of the usual
yellow. Anyhow, I was deadheading my butterfly bush and its covered with lots
of big fat bumble bees, and the above described insects are actually flying
arround the shrub and hunting them out. When they come across a bumble bee,
they fly into them and knock them completley off of the flower! I saw this
happen several times and it was not just some random thing. Anyone know what
the heck is going on? Im kind of curious.

Toad


Is it this?

http://website.lineone.net/~nigin/white_faced_bee.htm

In article 20030819125931.21194.00000195@mb-
m10.aol.com, says...
Latley I have been seeing these flying insects that look like bees but are
quite a bit fatter, and have black and white stripes instead of the usual
yellow. Anyhow, I was deadheading my butterfly bush and its covered with lots
of big fat bumble bees, and the above described insects are actually flying
arround the shrub and hunting them out. When they come across a bumble bee,
they fly into them and knock them completley off of the flower! I saw this
happen several times and it was not just some random thing. Anyone know what
the heck is going on? Im kind of curious.

Toad

It may be one of the Robber Flies. I can't find a pic as
you describe, but they do come in different shapes and
sizes.
--

http://home.comcast.net/~larflu/owl1.jpg

Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!

On 19 Aug 2003 16:59:31 GMT, (Marley1372)
wrote:

Latley I have been seeing these flying insects that look like bees but are
quite a bit fatter, and have black and white stripes instead of the usual
yellow. Anyhow, I was deadheading my butterfly bush and its covered with lots
of big fat bumble bees, and the above described insects are actually flying
arround the shrub and hunting them out. When they come across a bumble bee,
they fly into them and knock them completley off of the flower! I saw this
happen several times and it was not just some random thing. Anyone know what
the heck is going on? Im kind of curious.

Hi Toad,

Try looking at this page:

http://www.david.element.ukgateway.n...iggerwasps.htm

I came across reference to these, "BEE-KILLER
WASP/Philanthus triangulum" while searching for something
else.

Just a long shot/guess... Interesting observation you made
though.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email

Thanks for the link, but that isnt it either. I managed to swat one of them to
the ground to have a look and it looks exactly like a white faced bee but these
are much too big.

Toad

I think what you are seeing is one of the bee flies.