bee like insect on apple tree.

[digon]

I spotted this bee sized insect on my young apple tree this morning.
Have done loads of searching but haven't been able to find it online.
Does anyone know what it is.

[alldigging]

Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth videos, photos and facts - Hemaris tityus - ARKive
?

[shepp726]

its a bee fly.

[veggiechicken]

Its a Bombylius (Bee fly) More here NaturePlus: Identification : Tags : insect

[digon]

Thanks for the replies.
I followed veggie chickens link to the Bombylius (bee fly) and yes that's it.
So it's a good guy that lives on nectar and should help pollination I think.

[mothhawk]

Gosh, that's something I've not seen before. Looked it up and I think I'm a bit ambivalent about it. While the adult drinks nectar, the larvae eat the larvae of solitary bees. That's why it looks like a bee, so it can sneak up and lay eggs near the bee's nest. I think, on the whole, I'd rather have bees.

[KittyColdNose]

Ooh, never heard of a Bee Fly before. As Mothhawk says, I'd rather have the bees.

[Two_Sheds]

It's a bee fly ( a type of hoverfly)