Golden Wasp Fly

This is one of those bugs that is extremely hard to identify because there are about a hundred other variations of this same strange mixture of features. Flies that look like wasps, wasps that look like flies - I don't know what all these guys do but it must be something important because there's so many of them. I am hoping they pick up the slack of the honey bees, since pollinating this year was at an all time low. It would be good to spread that work load around. ;)
It has very large fly like eyes and legs, but a wasp shaped body and what may be a faux stinger for a nose. It wasn't aggressive, nor was it friendly - it's coloration and shape make it look as though it's something you don't want to touch - and I wonder if that is a defensive disguise, some biomimicry action going on? Any (real or wanna be) entomologists out there know what this is?!
XoXo

Wasp Wrestling

I have already been stung twice this spring by the aggressive wasps around the house. It's almost a relief to see them fighting with each other instead of flying up my skirt (which has happened three times in my life so far).

xoxoooo

Bees and Friends

There is the coolest variety of bees and wasps in Western North Carolina! Here are some pics of the bees and their friends working their wings off to pollinate every last flower. So fuzzy and cute, I want to pet them...well most of them.