Head to head
Wasp Beetle vs Bee-fly
Wasp Beetle
VS Bee-fly
The wasp beetle and bee-fly are two harmless insects that gain protection by looking like stinging ones, one a beetle and the other a fly.
| Wasp Beetle | Bee-fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Clytus arietis | Bombylius major |
| Group | A longhorn beetle | A true fly, with only one pair of wings |
| Mimics | A wasp, with a black body banded with bright yellow | A small bumblebee, with a plump, golden-brown furry body |
| Behaviour | Moves with quick, jerky steps and waves its antennae, like a wasp | Hovers like a hummingbird, with a long rigid snout held out in front |
| Harmless | Has no sting and no venom, relying purely on its disguise | Has no sting, and is entirely harmless despite resembling a bee |
| Adult food | Pollen and nectar from flowers such as hawthorn and umbellifers | Nectar from spring flowers such as primroses, violets, and dead-nettles |
| Larvae | Live and feed in dead and decaying wood, such as old branches, fence posts, and stumps | Parasitise the nests of mining bees, eating the bee grubs and their food stores |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated globally, though widespread and common | Not Evaluated globally, though widespread and common |
Wasp Beetle vs Bee-fly: common questions
Which one mimics a wasp?
The wasp beetle, which has a black body banded with bright yellow, moves with jerky steps, and waves its antennae like a wasp.
Which one is a fly?
The bee-fly, which has only one pair of wings and looks like a small bumblebee.
Are either dangerous?
No, both are entirely harmless, with no sting and no venom.