.ryzst

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I found this interesting fly feeding on some fennel-like flowers. It's the same size as a honeybee and the back half is a close match in coloration, but the eyes don't look like any bee eyes I've ever seen. Maybe they look different in other wavelengths and the mimicry is better. When a real bee approached though, this guy took off like a rocket. Real bees don't do that. I've seen them kick & headbutt each other fighting over a choice flower. Other than that, this fellow was pretty convincing from a distance. I did a bit of researching and this appears to be Eristalinus taeniops or a Banded-Eye Drone Fly. A common worldwide species.