The diversity of insects in a garden is amazing. Predation and competition pressures are intense in insects and these select for unique structure or strategy for survival. As you look at these three images you need to redefine your skills for identifying bees and wasps. All three of these insects are flies that mimic colors and patterns of bees and wasps. Predators learn to avoid bees and wasps by associating stingers with warning coloration. By looking like bees and wasps these flies also gain protection from predators. Of interest, and indicative of the intricacy and complexity of food webs, all three of these mimics are predators on other insects!