Spending time outdoors means getting familiar with the pests that might populate your yard. As humans and insects start spending more time outside their shelters in the summer, they must learn to live together.
After all, who doesn’t like to enjoy the hot weather and the stunning flowers that spring and summer bring? However, the co-living with stinging wasps (or bees) might be annoying.
For this reason, learning how to identify the “aggressive” or “more dangerous” species is crucial. Both corn flies (also known as hoverflies) and sweat bees are popular in the summer.
Keep reading this “corn fly vs sweat bee” essential guide to learning more about them! Here, we included everything you must know about these pests.
Corn Flies vs Sweat Bees: Similarities
Even if many people refer to corn flies and sweat bees interchangeably, these insects don’t have much in common. The confusion arises because, in some states, people refer to sweat bees as corn flies. But the truth is that corn flies are the so-called “hover flies” (the name comes from their ability to hover and stay suspended in the air).
The two are attracted to the smell (and taste) of salty sweat, meaning they love to be around in the summer. Both tend to be solitary, even if sweat bees occasionally form small colonies and live and work in the same nest. But how can you tell them apart? Jump to the following section to get some tips!
Corn Flies and Sweat Bees: Differences
Sweat bees bear venom, which is not fatal, meaning that the danger of being around them is minimal. Still, it is probably not good to just let them be in your yard. Keep in mind that only female sweat bees can sting.
On the other hand, hoverflies (or corn flies) bear no sting and won’t bite, meaning they won’t cause any issues to your family members. Instead, they are aphid predators, which can help you solve infestation issues in your plants.
Corn flies have smooth bodies with yellow and black striped abdomens and an elongated shape that resemble yellow jackets. However, as their names suggest, they are not bees. Instead, they are flies who benefit from our fear of wasps and stinging bees. You can recognize them as they are generally smaller than bees and stay about a quarter of an inch.
Sweat bees, on the other hand, are metallic and tinier. If you look closely, you might notice that they have four wings. Corn flies, on the other hand, have only two.
Getting Rid of Sweat Bees
Don’t eliminate corn flies: they are beneficial pollinators and crucial predators of annoying pests such as aphids. Plus, they won’t sting or bite you, meaning you can have them hanging around your garden without worrying they will harm your kids or other family members.
Instead, because sweat bees might be aggressive (when bothered), you should take measures to prevent them from stinging. One of the best ways to get rid of sweat bees in your garden is to wear insect repellents and limit the amount of skin you expose.
Yes, the second trick might be challenging to follow during the summer, but it works. Also, remove rotting wood and other debris in your yard that might offer the perfect hiding spot to sweat bees.
Finally, look for their burrows underground to locate their shelters and contact a professional service to take care of them.
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