Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

ALMOST BEEKEEPING - RELATED TOPICS => GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE => OTHER INSECTS BOTH GOOD AND BAD FOR THE GARDEN => Topic started by: Cindi on August 16, 2007, 02:11:18 pm

Title: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: Cindi on August 16, 2007, 02:11:18 pm
Not sure if this is the proper forum or not, if it is not right, I am sure a mod will move it for me.

Yesterday when I was working around the apiary, I saw two huge bugs of the same species on top of each other, sitting on a rock on (my now getting bigger) rock pile.  It looked like two bumblebees that were black and yellow in colour, I looked closer and they were not bumblebees, but something similar, more of an elongated type body though.  As I was watching, I was getting ready to take a picture, and they flew off and landed on the wire surrrounding the apiary.  Again I went over, they were still attached to each other.  I was getting ready again to take a picture and off they flew. They were big.

I was sitting by my pool later on and this same bug (only one this time) landed on my arm, only for a moment, and then flew off.

If I ever get a chance again, I will take a picture, I haven't seen this insect around my farm before, it was beautiful, but I don't think it was a good one.  Have a wonderful day, best of this life.  Cindi
Title: Re: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: Scadsobees on August 16, 2007, 02:57:56 pm
Was it a type of robber fly?

Try some of these....

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/robberflies.html

Rick
Title: Re: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: JP on August 17, 2007, 11:39:15 pm
What a great websight Rick.
Title: Re: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: Mici on August 18, 2007, 06:19:48 am
after seeing this, you realise that movie producers don't have all that great imagination ;)
Title: Re: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: Cindi on August 18, 2007, 02:23:23 pm
Rick, that website is cool.  I have a funny hunch that the bug in question might be the bee killer.  I didn't have enough time to really look closely, but I am pretty sure it is.  I brought in a picture from that website.  It follows:

(http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/1332/beekillerts5.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: Weirdest bug I ever saw
Post by: Scadsobees on August 20, 2007, 09:24:59 am
What amazes me is how much I've learned since beekeeping!  All the pictures and questions that are posted in forums like this on make me curious, I just got to know what they are.  And since my 7 and 8 yr old sons started collection bugs :-D  They are amazing collectors!

I grew up in the "country" and loved bugs and all things wild, but I think I've learned more and found more interesting creatures in the last 6 years in the suburbs.

What is really astounding is the amount of mimicry in the fly world....all the flies on our flowers look like some kind of bee.

Rick