Bee Fly Identification?

Question

I found a fly that looks a lot like a bee. I dont know what exactly it is called. Anyone know?

Answer 1

Many flies resemble other insects, like bees, spiders, scorpions, and even mantids (Not actually a fly). Some are commonly known as bee flies, quite an appropriate name. The answer above mine gives a great couple images of those, they are large hairy flies,typically covere in "fur" like a bumble bee.
Other flies resemble wasps as well, the standard yellow and black coloration of any animal is a great way to advertise that you are not eatible, even though in some cases you are, like in the case of these flies. This common phenomena is known as Baetisian mimicry, names after Mr. Henry Bates, who first noticed this behaviour and classified it.
I have attached several photos here of flies that mimic wasps, these are commonly known as hoverflies or drone flies (dones being the male caste of bees)
Have a look:

Bee fly:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/26468

Drone fly:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/63465

Ill give you a little entomological trick for telling them apart from real bees......
Bees, ants ans wasps are all very closely related, they belong to the order Hymenoptera, all members that have wings (flying ants included) have 4 of them.
Flies (a very large order) belong to the order Diptera, actually meaning 2-wings, so if they have two wings it s fly, if 4, then watch out!
hahahaha
I hope this answers your question!

Answer 2

Yes, there are several flies that look just like bees. Check the link below for pictures of them. But *FAIR WARNING* -- the first picture that pops up looks JUST like a mosquito, so don't freak, OK?! LOL!!!