NO. 022
Bees & wasps
Common eastern bumblebee
First abdominal segment is yellow
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NO. 027
Illustration · not shown at life size
Illustration · not shown at life sizeFlies / Insect
Hover fly
Syrphidae · family group
It may look like a bee, but count the wings: a hover fly has just one pair.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Three things to notice.
One pair of wings.
Large fly eyes.
Hovers around flowers.
Out in the world
Where to look.
Around southeastern Wisconsin
Flowers.
When to look
When flowers bloom. These flies are often more noticeable later in the growing season.
Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.
A closer look
One clue is just the start.
A bee has two pairs of wings; a fly has one. The big eyes and short antennae are useful clues, too.
A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.
Keep exploring
Meet the neighbors.
For curious grownups, too
Read a little further.
Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.
Make a creature disc
Artwork & downloads.
Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.
Relief depth PNG — prototype
Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum
Download PNG
Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.
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