Syrphid Fly – Mallota Species
Many syrphid flies mimic bumble or honey bees or wasps in their quest to avoid predators averse to attacking insects with stingers.
Syrphids, of course, have no stingers – yet they reap the benefits of having a venom-delivery system without paying the metabolic costs of actually constructing one.
This fly is a brilliant example of bumble bee mimicry. For comparison, take a look at the brown-belted bumble bee pictured below.
Oh – syrphids provide pollination services just like the bees and wasps they emulate.
Female Robber Fly, Laphria grossa is another bumble bee mimic in the family Asilidae, the robber flies.