Anyone tell me what this insect was please?

[Thendongofti]

Hi, Afraid I didn't get a photo, but was over at a friend's house today, and we were watching a fascinating insect 'patrolling' her lamb's ear plant (Stachys byzantina). It looked fairly like a honey bee to me- about the same size and shape, but it had a mainly plain dark brown back with wasp-like stripes around just the far edges of its sides. It was hovering, and darting about in a very jerky, business-like way- patrolling, as I say, just this one small clump of plants the whole time. There were a lot of hoverflies trying to get to the flower heads too- but it was chasing them away in a most determined manner!
She said she had been watching it- or another the same- the previous day. I've not noticed anything before that flies like a hoverfly, but looks like a bee/ wasp hybrid! It seemed extremely territorial.
Does anyone know what it could be please? We are very curious!
I'll have to try and get a photo next time...

[Jason Green]

Evenging Don, and welcome to WAB!

The photograph idea sounds good. In the mean-time, Google the genus Xanthogramma...

Take care,

Jason

[Paul mabbott]

drone-flies get their name from resemblence to honey bees. Hoverflies (Syrphidae) of genus Eristalis.

[Africa]

Welcome to WAB thendongofti! You have described beautifully the aspect and behaviour of a male Wool Carder Bee, Anthidium manicatum. The male is territorial and defends Lambs ears and other plants (lavender, foxgloves...) from other insects large and small, tackling them and trying to pierce them with the spines at the end of its abdomen (only visible at close range). The reason of this behaviour is that the females use the cottony down of the plant to line their nests, so that the male gets exclusive mating access to them. Both sexes also feed on the flower spikes of this plant, so that if you want this bee species in your garden you only need to plant some Lambs ears.

[Thendongofti]

Wow, thanks Africa (& all!)- Just Googled images of this insect, and that is indeed the one!- Some seem more striped than others though- this one was mainly brown- but that is fascinating! I'll watch out for them in future. It's hard to Google for things when you don't know what they are!! Ditto reference books.
Curiosity duly satisfied .....