The yellowjacket hover fly, or Virginia flower fly, is a completely harmless mimic of yellowjackets. No more dangerous than a housefly, it buzzes around and seems aggressive. This defensive tactic no doubt leads many people to kill it out of fear and ignorance.
See Also
Some Animals Can Smell Fear, but Can Bees? Here's What to KnowBeeBee Careful: Bee Safety 101Can You Pet A Bumblebee? | Where To Find & How To Pet A Bumblebee?As with other true flies, you can distinguish them from the wasps they mimic by their single pair of wings, short antennae, and flylike compound eyes. This and other flies in the syrphid family are famous for visiting flowers, hovering around them, and intimidating people who think they might sting.
Learn more about this and other flower flies (syrphids) in their group entry.
