Can anyone identify this insect for me?

[andrewducker]

It's about an inch (2cm) long, was flying around our bedroom, and was tough as nails. I have one of these* (basically a tennis racket with a charge running through horizontal wires), and every time I hit it there was a loud crack, a blue flash, and it _still_ kept going for three hits.

If I'm likely to have a whole nest of immortal massive insects in my walls, I'd like as much information on what they might be as possible...

(Only one so far, so it's entirely possible it came in through a window a couple of days ago and snoozed until five minutes ago. I'm certainly hoping so!)


*The reviews are awesome. People clearly get the urge to kill after getting one.

Comments

[darkoshi]

In case there's a next time, and in case you want to try catching it instead of zapping it, you can use a clear round plastic container and a piece of thin cardboard. When the bee is staying still somewhere, slowly cover it with the container, and then slide the cardboard underneath to cage it. Then transport it outside. You could also use a small wire-mesh strainer instead of the plastic. Or for a big and scary buzzing insect, a large wire-mesh strainer and a large piece of cardboard.

[andrewducker]

Generally I capture insects if they'll hold still long enough. This one wouldn't stop moving long enough to get a cup near it.

[darkoshi]

The bigger the container, the easier to catch them when they're moving... but then you risk accidentally squashing them if you catch them on the edge. I hate it when that happens. With zooming bees or flies, sometimes if you open wide a door or window, you'll get lucky and they'll end up flying out.

Individual bugs don't usually scare me, but occasionally... last week there was this big flying cockroach that managed to terrify me. I got up my courage to try to catch it... it happened to land on the door-post, so I reached over with something and pushed the door-latch... it scurried out, I pulled the door shut quickly, and breathed a sigh of relief.

[davegodfrey]

Looks like a hoverfly. Totally harmless, depending on the species the larvae eat aphids. Adults bimble around eating pollen and nectar. Bludgeoning it to death is a waste of time.

[andrewducker]

In my experience hoverflies are brightly coloured hovering things that look more wasp-like.

[davegodfrey]

Depends entirely on the species. Drone Flies look (as the name suggests) like bee drones, and are quite hairy.

My other suggestion would be a solitary bee, but the head doesn't look quite right.

Pop it up on here

[andrewducker]

Thanks! They confirmed it is a Hoverfly.