What kind of bee is this?

Question: I just noticed this apparent bee landing on Catsear blossoms, working alone, never approaching the White Clover patch a few feet away, where many Honeybees are active.  Now and then it lands on a blade of grass and appears to be grooming itself (?).  Attached find 3 bad iPad photos.  You see what I saw:  1) relatively long & large, 2) not plump like a bumblebee, 3) two hairs sticking out back, 4) wings usually angled back except when, at rest,  straight out perpendicular to body, 5) grey eye areas.

ID please?  Thank you!

responder: Anna Ashby, Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener   Replied July 13, 2023, 11:35 PM EDT
response: Hi Stephen, You're right. To positively identify an insect one needs more than photos. First capture then freeze it or put into rubbing alcohol to be able to examine it carefully. From the included photos, I can only make some generalizations.   Let's start by eliminating some insects to try to narrow down our options. I think what looks like 2 spike hairs protruding from the abdomen, are actually the 2 hind legs. The flying profile and wing structure rule out honey bees. It doesn't appear to have long antennae like bees. It doesn't have a "wasp waist" so it isn't from the wasp family.   The way the wings are held makes me think that it is perhaps some sort of fly that looks bee-like. It's fuzzy so it isn't a hover fly. But maybe in the Genera Villa, commonly known as "bee-flies". But I truly do not know for sure.  Here's some identification resources. North Dakota State University Extension, "Insects that Look Like Bees."

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 14, 2023, 2:04 PM EDT
response: ﻿ ﻿﻿﻿Anna, Thanks for your prompt response!  Makes sense to me this is some kind of fly, because of 1) the compound eyes occupying most of top of head, 2) the single wings, 3) its doing something atop blades of grass that reminded me of housefly grooming.Researching bee-like flies as you suggest, I am inclined toward Hover Flies rather than Bee Flies, because Bee Flies seem more plump, with mouth parts that would allow them to feed on clover blossoms, while this one was more cylindrical and only crawled over the Catsear (False Dandelion) blossoms.Cannot confirm how furry or hairy this insect was, do totally agree I need to catch and preserve one.  Where might I send it for ID?Since moving to suburbia, Laura and I have been working on making this simple landscape more complex.  We put out Mason Bee houses and have begun to notice other native pollinators.  We agree that all this turfgrass will be replaced one day. Meanwhile, we mediate our differences, such as, what is a “weed”  (unwanted by at least one of us, and/or disliked by neighbors), and what is not!  If pollinators like it, we tend to like it also. Hey, we transplant Queen Anne’s Lace!  And Laura has left my Bull Thistle alone.  Appreciating OSU Extension,SteveSent from my iPadOn Jul 13, 2023, at 8:35 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Anna Ashby, Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardener   Replied July 14, 2023, 8:13 PM EDT
response: Hi Steve, You might be able to identify the insect yourself once you capture a specimen. If not, contact the OSU Extension for your county to see if their Master Gardeners offer insect identification services. Portland Metro Area Extension Service. Clackamas County Extension Service. Washington County Extension Service.  Now for a fun OSU publication for both of you to peruse: "Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators",  publishing date is June 2020. I foresee the loss of turf and an abundance of flowers in your future! Enjoy the process.