Info please What is this flying thing (Man: gardens, title)

[vec101]

Saw a bug, bee, something that I have never seen before flying around my flowers getting the nectar. WHAT is this thing?

Didn't know how to post the picture here so I put it in my album. Click on my name, then click on my profile. On the right bottom side you will see the picture of the UFO. (Hope that works). I just got a couple more pictures of it. When you see the pix, click on the title/link under the picture and it will show you 2 more pictures of it.

The UFI is about 1 inch or a little longer, it's body is gold with a black band on the lower part, gold again, then it looks like it is black at the "tail" end. It is quiet - does not make any type of buzzing sound.

PS Don't tell me that it is a bumble bee. It's not one I've ever seen - unless it is a mutant one.

[x1x]

Looks like Moth Man's offspring to me!!!!

[vec101]

It's either very brave or very stupid. It's oblivious to anything but the flowers - it let's me get very close to it, I could reach out and touch it.

My dog was watching it and the insect flew onto a flower just a very few inches from my dog's mouth. One of my dog's fav hobbies is killing/biting bumble bees - I can't believe she didn't go after it.

[David Kennedy]

It's a moth that resembles a hummingbird..

[r601020]

Not entirely certain, but it looks like a "bee fly".

Comes in different variations . .
Bee-Fly - Google Image Search+

"Bombyliidae is a large family of flies with hundreds of genera, although their life cycles are not well known. Adults generally feed on nectar and pollen, thus are pollinators of flowers. They superficially resemble bees, thus are commonly called bee flies, and this may offer the adults some protection from predators."

[citybilly]

I'd recommend a long handled fly swatter for that. Bee fly soup for dinner,...hey!!

[Buzz123]

You've got yourself a hummingbird moth. I'd feel honored to have such a visitor.

hummingbird moth - Google Image Search

[genesee]

Ahh..Buzz beat me to it. It is a hummingbird moth. Just wonderful to see your pictures of it!

[r601020]

Ah!

[vec101]

Thanks gang. I knew I could count on you.

Makes sense that's what it is cuz it sure acted and looked like a hummingbird. I was even beginning to wonder if it was a tiny one.

I do feel honored, and excited, to have seen it. Was so enthralled I spent a good bit of time watching it.

Jumped out on the net to see what else I could fine - came across a site that is awesome for bug etc identification. Insect and Spider Identification Discussion Forum: For Home, Gardens, and Yards

Couple others are: Hemaris diffinis
" The Snowberry Clearwing Moth is a small hummingbird moth which more closely resembles a large bumblebee rather than a hummingbird. Like other hummingbird moths, this one flies during daylight. A similar, but larger, sphinx moth is the (Hemaris thysbe) Hummingbird Clearwing Moth." Hummingbird Moths - Snowberry Clearwing Sphinx Hummingbird Moths