Sambac, I had a "swarm" 10 times that size last year in one of my oak trees. We were very concerned because my husband is very allergic to bees. I found some local bee-keepers on the web and they came over to educate us on honey bees. The air was abuzz within hundreds of feet from the tree but the bees just went on their merry way, threatening no one. It was something I will remember forever, truly an awesome sight!!! I traded the beekeepers some tomato plants for their wisdom and time and am even considering setting up some hives in my yard-fresh honey! With all the bad-stuff going on out there-consider yourself lucky!!

Thank you both for writing. Jean, you're right, it's a flower fly! thanks. i'm impressed. i found a webpage that said: "Although flower flies resemble bees, they can be distinguished by their wings: flower flies (like all flies) have only 2 wings. Bees have 4 wings." The website also said: "These flies are able to hover in mid-air, much like hummingbirds." That is exactly what my guys do! and Panzees, you're right too. the webpage said: "Flower flies are often called "sweat bees" because of their resemblance to bees and because they often land on human skin to gather sweat. Flower flies cannot sting, but there are small black bees in the family Halictidae (also commonly called sweat bees) that also gather sweat, and will occasionally sting humans while they are doing so. Often, an innocent flower fly is blamed for a sting caused by a "true" sweat bee." the website is about flowerflies in Kentucky, but it's useful even if i live in Maryland. Thanks again! Here is a link that might be useful: Flower flies

Well honey bees mate in the AIR so I don`t know what you saw!!

it is always nice to see pictures of different figs,good job and thanks.Ciao, Giuseppe