BEE FLIES ARE INDEED FLIES AND NOT BEES. NOTE THAT THE WINGS ARE HELD OUT LIKE A FLIES WINGS. WHILE A BEE WILL FOLD ITS WINGS DOWN TO ITS BACK WHEN AT REST. THERE ARE MANY SPECIES OF BEE FLIES AND THE ARE ACTUALLY VERY COMMON ON FLOWERS IN THE LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL. THERE ARE ALMOST AS MANY BEE FLIES ON THE FLOWERS IN OUR PRAIRIE AS THERE ARE BEES. CHECK YOUR FLOWERS FOR BEE FLIES-YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED.