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

Thanks BN. I think you're right. I thought it looked different from the regular ruby-throated females I photographed in Summer.

I just came across your post and wondered if you still have the 3 mason bee houses? Your photo of them is interesting. Do you have any problems with housing the bees near your garden as far as being stung?

Carol and all, I have spent some late night time just now, viewing these wonderful photos, and I'll look at them again, for sure. Jim, I think you should be a wildlife photographer who specializes in insects--I've never seen such a good pics of bees and butterflies. (Tip: grow zinnias again). Of course, the deer is my favorite...looks just like ours, except for the ones with the clown faces--ha. They like to scare little kids. My bee pics aren't so good, but I'll look again to see if I can find one or two. Anyway, I enjoyed all this so much. Thanks for starting this thread, Carol. Diane