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Know nothing about bees but saw some yesterday which I haven't seen before. What made me look twice was;-  a) they hovered - (hung absolutely motionless for minutes at a time - and I know they weren't hoverflies! :)) and b) their wings appeared exceptionally long, narrow and pointed and  were black/or black-edged.  There were four or five of them around one aubretia plant but they shot off as soon as I got within 'snapping' range. No stripes on the body, just an all-over mid-brown. I found the one I've snapped trapped in a spider's web in the green house. Not good pics, I know, as it wouldn't stay still, but maybe good enough for someone to tell me what they are? (The poor little thing did eventually get free of the spider's web!  :))

Any ideas, please?

Hope someone knows as I have these too - their legs hang down as they hovver.

They are there most days in the garden at the same spots and if I put my hand flat underneath them, they do occasionally sit on my hand for a bit then hovver off agian.

On the subject of bees, i have a large orange tailed bumble bee excavating a nest in my rockery.  WIll try & get a piccie next week.

It is probably one of many different species of solitary bees. These can make small nests in brick walls, holes in the ground, flowerpots etc. depending on their type. They are the cause of the large notches cut out of your rose leaves.

They are harmless to humans and perform the usual pollenation role of the other bees.

Useful link: http://www.bluewisteria.co.uk/pest/leafcutterbee.html

It only appears to have one pair of wings not two, so that would make it a fly. On the other hand the body is very hairy and that's more like a bee. I don't have my books available right now (I'm at work) so I'll have to check later. What size are they?

It's a bee-fly! No, really!  ;D  The bee-flies are real flies but they do a really good job of mimicking bees. That long poky-out tongue gives it away as Bombylius major. 

Your description of the long wings is spot on (one pair of wings = fly; true bees have two pairs of wings as Robert says). 

Had a scout around and found these ID photos, Grandma ...

http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/bombyliidae.htm

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs!  ;D That's it exactly, Triff. Description and pics are spot on. I didn't know there were brown, furry flies. Fancy that! Thanks ever so much everyone.  :)

That's what I was thinking, but I wanted to check. Bee-fly it is.

thanks! and thank goodness you got some photos, these have been driving me mad for days as i don't know what they are but every time i get a camera out they disappear!

i can sleep again!

must watch out for them

Fascinating thread.  Thanks so much, I've learnt something new today.   ;D

G x

Heya Georgie :)
Learnt something new about bee-flies too, Georgie -- I didn't know their larvae were parasites of solitary bees.
And I've always thought of bee-flies as harmless little furry impressionists!

:)

had one  on lottie today another first for me /shadesx

Apparently aubretia is one of their favourite things, so if you have that, you may well find bee-flies hovering there (clever little beggars drink nectar in mid-hover!)

Of course, since this thread, I've been spotting bee-flies all over the garden. :)

Here is another picture of a beefly which I took last year.

Super picture Paulines7 - it certainly shows the dark edging on the wings to perfection. You'd never guess, from that angle, that it was brown and furry on top, would you?  ???

Thanks for all the info.,
Was puzzled this year as so many have visited the garden.
Things change don't they?