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About Eric R. Eaton
Expertise
I can answer most questions related to wasps, solitary bees, grasshoppers and katydids, beetles, cicadas, and spiders, especially requests to identify "mystery bugs" in North America!
Experience
Past/Present clients
Principal author of the "Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America" (in bookstores now!), Smithsonian Institution (contract), Cincinnati Zoo (employer), Portland State University (contract), Chase Studio, Inc (employer), Arkansas Museum of Discovery (guest speaker), Krohn Conservatory, Cincinnati (volunteer trainer, guest speaker).
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You are here: Experts > Science > Insects/Spiders > Entomology (Study of Bugs) > Bees
Expert: Eric R. Eaton
Date: 7/13/2004
Subject: Bees
Question
I live in Moundville, AL and am bothered by an insect that looks like a miniture bee. It is yellow with black stripes, about 3/8th inches in length and has wings. The "locals" call them sweat bees or good news bees. As a child, I remember it to be good luck if you could get one to perch on your finger. They are very abundant this year to the point of being bothersome. They don't sting. They are smaller than yellowjackets or wasps. What are they? Thanks.
Answer
Mark:
Thank you for the folklore about these insects. Might be able to use it in the field guide I am writing!
Probably are indeed sweat bees, family Halictidae. Another possibility is flower flies of some kind, family Syrphidae. I just learned of a big species of "news bee" that is actually a flower fly, so I suspect that any bee-like insect that hovers before landing is likely to be a flower fly.
There are also "grass flies" in the family Chloropidae that resemble bees. So, lots of possiblities:-) Without seeing the actual critters, that is as close as I will be able to get. Thanks again for your question. Bug me any time!
Eric
bugeric@webtv.net
http://community.webtv.net/bugeric/BugEric
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