Bee attack.

[cheops]

Am wondering what is going on here and hopefully you bee experts can explain. Whilst having a coffee near one of my plum trees which is in full blossom, I noticed a bee visit one of the flowers. As it collected pollen I saw another type of bee with a very long protruding spike/spear hover over the busy bee then suddenly swoop down onto the bee. The bee flew off with the other in hot pursuit. I now curious, saw this action repeated several times, sometimes the attack was so quick the pollinating bee had barely landed on the flower. What on earth is going on - is the agressive attacker trying to harm the pollinating bee - is it just being territorial or what? Would be very interested to hear from you. Thanks.

[Mikey]

Now I know a bee fly has a long spike as a nose is this what you mean or was the spike on the abdomen.

[cheops]

The long spike was at the head as a nose Mikey.

[Two_Sheds]

type of bee with a very long protruding spike/spear hover

It's a type of hoverfly, the bee fly

[fishpond]

Sounds like a Bee Fly.

[cheops]

Thanks everyone though I was less interested in its identification than its behaviour I was watching. It or they certainly didn't want other pollinating bees around as they were immediately either chased off or it was a malicious attack. I never saw where the beefly[flies ] came from to attack the pollinating bee [THEY ARE SO QUICK]but I got the impression they were hovering close by waiting for a bee. I was wondering if others had ever witnessed this behaviour. I have searched the internet and nowhere is it mentioned they will harm a pollinating bee or even chase them off. All a bit strange really.