Sweat Bee Vs Hoverfly Vs Wasp – What Is The Difference

Let us understand the differences between a sweat bee vs hoverfly vs wasp, because all three of them look very similar to each other.

There are millions of different types of insects found worldwide. Some look entirely different from each other, and some look almost identical.

Due to similarity in appearance, it is quite a challenge to identify them to be able to take the necessary precautions against them.

Hoverflies, sweat bees, and wasps are classic examples of this. These insects have several behavioral and physical differences, but at first glance, they look identical.

In this article, we will help you understand the various similarities and differences between these species.

Similarities Between Wasps, Sweat Bees, and Hoverflies

A sweat bee, a hoverfly, and a wasp are quite similar in terms of appearance.

In fact, it can be a challenge to differentiate between these species without knowing the basic details and body structure.

All these insects have brightly colored bodies with black and yellow stripes on their abdomen.

These bright colors signal the predators that the insects are an unappealing snack and meal.

Hoverflies and sweat bees are also particularly fond of the salty sweat in humans. You can find them buzzing around, especially when you are sweating.

Hoverflies mimicking the movements and appearance of stinging insects is an excellent example of Batesian mimicry.

A harmless creature tries mimicking the appearance and movements of the toxic and dangerous ones.

This helps them to survive better and to avoid predators.

Other examples of Batesian mimicry are Coral snakes and King snakes. These two are similar in appearance, but the coral snakes are highly poisonous.

The king snakes, on the other hand, are harmless. Due to this, predators and other animals steer clear of these king snakes and refrain from attacking.

Sweat Bee Vs Hoverfly Vs Wasp: Differences

Now that we have listed the notable similarities between various species of hoverflies, we will list several differences between them.

Yes, they look similar, but there is a wide variety of differences between the two.

If you are not able to identify a hoverfly, you might chase them away, thinking they are some sweat bee species.

But since they are active hunters of aphids and excellent pollinators, they are considered beneficial insects.

Appearance

All these insects look identical, but if you look closely, you can point out many differences in their appearance.

For starters, sweat bees have a coat of tiny hair on their body, and hoverflies are entirely hairless.

Sweat bees can be identified by their metallic-colored heads.

Also, there is a notable size difference. Sweat bees are much larger than hoverflies and have dark eyes.

What They Eat

Hoverflies are one of the most active hunters of aphids. Having a few hoverflies in your yard will help to sweep out all aphid colonies and eggs.

They are also excellent pollinators and can be seen hovering around bright flowers consuming pollens and nectar.

Hoverflies and sweat bees are fond of the salts found in sweat. However, the sweat bees are less attracted to the saline taste than the hoverflies.

They only chase sweat when it is nearby.

Stingers

Wasp and sweat bee stings can be painful to deal with, and this is why people are scared of them. However, not all sweat bees can sting.

Only female sweat bees have a small stinger and can release some venom while dropping in on humans or pets.

The hoverflies are entirely harmless. These insects do not possess a stinger and are surprisingly non-aggressive.

The only concerning factor is their habit of swarming around sweaty bodies.

Behavior

Hoverflies are solitary insects, and they prefer to live and nest alone. In rare cases, they swarm in numbers during the foraging sessions.

Sweat bees and wasps are mixed cases; Some species are solitary, where the female bees construct their individual underground nests.

The others live in colonies where they serve different roles of soldiers, workers, queens, and more

Number of Wings

Flower flies are from the fly family, which is why they have a single pair of wings. Using these wings, they can easily hover around different types of plants.

Sweat bees and wasps have two or more pairs of translucent wings and can not stay suspended in the air like hoverflies.

In case you spot an insect with bright yellow and black lines hovering near flowers, it is a hoverfly.

Do not be afraid of them, as they are harmless and won’t sting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Isn’t it interesting how mimicking a few stinging insects can keep the hoverflies safe from predators?

Hoverflies copying bees and wasps is an excellent example of Batesian mimicry.

After reading this article, we hope you will be able to identify a hoverfly in a group of bees and wasps. Remember to look for the smaller one that hovers around flowers.

Thank you for taking the time to read the piece.