Species Milesia virginiensis - Yellowjacket Hover Fly

Virginia Flower Fly, "news bee"

18-21 mm

Large syrphid that resembles a hornet. Syrphidae of Oklahoma (1) gives a key to separate the two species occurring there, scutellata and virginiensis. M. virginensis has much lighter wings, wider dark bands on abdomen than scutellata.

This fly is believed to be a mimic of the Southern Yellowjacket, Vespula squamosa.

Widespread in eastern North America--Ontario, Michigan, Colorado, south to Texas and east to coast.

Fields with flowers, likely near deciduous woodlands.

Mid-summer into early fall: June-August in Oklahoma, May-September in Piedmont and mountains of North Carolina, May-November in coastal plain of that state.

Nectar of a variety of flowers, such as Queen Anne's Lace, Titi (Cyrilla titi), Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Larvae feed in decaying heartwood. (See genus guide for reference.)

Flies aggressively and buzzes like a hornet. In the southern United States, sometimes called the news bee or good news bee for its habit of hovering in front of a person and "giving them the news". It is also said to be good luck if one can get the insect to perch on a finger, no doubt because this is difficult to do (2) (allexperts.com). A related bit of folklore is that a bee buzzing in the ear is a sign that important news will soon arrive (answers.yahoo.com).