Bee? and Fly identification needed Connecticut USA (1 Viewer)

[jeen1965]

I've been trying to pay more attention to insects, butterflies etc. this year. I'm not sure if the first 2 are the same or not. I looked in an insect book and the closest thing I found was a blue bottle fly but it mentions them being attracted to rotten meat, not flowers.

This one here looked like a bee to me but I'm not sure because the eyes remind me of a fly. I would appreciate it if someone could identify them for me. -thanks

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

The “bee” is in fact a Hoverfly, your suspicions about the eyes were absolutely correct. As for species, I’ll leave that for the Americans to sort out!

 

[jeen1965]

Thanks-I just looked it up. 6,000 species of them! How could anyone keep track of all those?!

 

[Jim M.]

I've been trying to pay more attention to insects, butterflies etc. this year. I'm not sure if the first 2 are the same or not. I looked in an insect book and the closest thing I found was a blue bottle fly but it mentions them being attracted to rotten meat, not flowers.

I believe they are both the same species – Secondary Screwworm Fly (Cochliomyia macellaria). They play a role in transmitting the screwworm disease among livestock. Like blue bottle flies, they might also be attracted to rotting meat, dung, etc. not only for food but as a place to lay eggs/mate, because those provide sustenance for their larvae. Adults may also feed on nectar/pollen, as here.

This one here looked like a bee to me but I'm not sure because the eyes remind me of a fly. I would appreciate it if someone could identify them for me. -thanks

Indeed a flower or hover fly (family Syrphidae). This one is in the genus Eristalis, likely E. transversa, the Transverse-banded Drone Fly, though this individual has a somewhat atypical appearance for that species. Flower flies are important pollinators. There are fewer than 400 species known from your area.

 

[jeen1965]

Thank you! The information you provided is interesting!