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.

[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.