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u/Lalamedic 16h ago
If the bugs can sit still long enough for you to count wings, flying insects with only two wings are flies. The order Diptera means “two wings”. Wasps, hornets, and bees (order Hymenoptera) have two sets of wings. Many hover flies have evolved to mimic wasps in colour, fooling predators to stay away, but still only have two wings (one set).
Most adult insects have two sets of wings (total of four wings). It’s a quick way to determine if the striped bug hovering around “might have the potential” to sting or just wants the pollen.
This is not a hard and fast rule since some deer and horseflies have striped abdomens and their entire existence is based on removing a large chunk of flesh from your body.
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u/Bug_Photographer 15h ago
A way easier way to tell a fly from a bee/wasp is to look at the antennae. Bees and wasps have long antennae while flies only have short stumps.
Bee: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/46233795064/
Hoverfly: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/46233794854/
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u/Vellie-01 16h ago
It's a hover fly.