Look, it's a bee, no, it's a wasp, no it's a MIMIC

I was out in my garden this week, trying to photograph some unusual pollinators for National Pollinator Week when I observed something different.  What I assumed was a bee perched on a leaf took off and attacked one of the [much larger] bumblebees!

I didn't get a good photo but here it is.

Predatory bee mimic

Lots of different species look like bees; flies in particular like to mimic bees.  Most of these mimics also function as pollinators.  Since bees sting looking and acting like a bee gets you a free pass from MOST predators.  At least against predators that don't specialize in stinging insects.

Another bee mimic, this one going for the nectar 

But there are predators who also mimic bees.  The excellent photographer, Alexander Wild, photographed a bee mimicking robber fly who successfully caught a bee for dinner [click on his name for some excellent insect photography].

My mystery predator?  No breakfast while I watched.  The bumblebees were too large for it and none of the smaller bees had gotten out of bed yet.