Texas Striped Sweat Bee vs Tapered Drone Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Texas Striped Sweat Bee Tapered Drone Fly
Scientific Name Agapostemon texanus Eristalis pertinax
Order Hymenoptera Diptera
Family Halictidae Syrphidae
Size 9-11 mm 12-16 mm
Habitat Grasslands Wetlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America, Central America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Texas Striped Sweat Bee

A widespread metallic green sweat bee found across much of North America. Males have distinctive black and yellow abdominal stripes contrasting with their green thorax.

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Did You Know?

Males often gather in sleeping clusters on plant stems at dusk, gripping with their mandibles and hanging motionless overnight.

Tapered Drone Fly

A large hoverfly resembling a honeybee but distinguished by its yellow-tipped front tarsi. It is active from early spring to late autumn.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest hoverflies to appear in spring, sometimes flying on warm days in February.