Mime454
Well-known member
They look exactly like honey bees, except that they have 2 wings instead of four. They come to flowers just like bees. When the mantis eats them, they emit a nice, fruity smell.
My Mantids Love these Drone Flies!
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Termite48
Well-known member
They are bee mimics and they are called Syrphid flies. They are of the order Diptera because they do just as you said, have two wings. The family is called Syrphidae. The bees are Apidae and have four as you suggested. They can fool not just humans but predators as they pollenate. They also as larvae do a great job on the plant pests, aphids. They are an aphid's worst enemy as they suck them up as larvae.
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MantidLord
Well-known member
Flies also have halteres instead of the extra pair of wings. Sometimes it's hard to see them, other times they're pretty evident.
