What is this orange flying insect on my broccoli?

[skiingjeff]

Can anyone identify the insect on my broccoli?

Thanks!

[Lindsaylew82]

1 of 2...90% sure... I can't see his butt.

Soldier fly....
https://bugguide.net/node/view/53717/bgimage

Some kind of rust fly...

https://bugguide.net/node/view/488907

[Lindsaylew82]

I hope #1. I see a lot of these on piles of grass clippings.

[skiingjeff]

I thinks more like #1 soldier fly as it does have the stripy back end

So, from what I read that would be a good thing. Thanks for getting back to me with some thoughts!

[rainbowgardener]

Unfortunately, I don't think it is a soldier fly which is more long and thin and wasp waisted.

Maybe the rust fly, though I'm not sure and not familiar with those.

[skiingjeff]

I haven't seen it again since so I haven't gotten any other pictures yet. Just hate knowing if its a good thing or a bad thing...

[Lindsaylew82]

I'm fairly certain mine are soldier flies. They are swarming my compost heap. They don't stop moving though, and they go away when I approach with a shovel. I looked again at the rust flies and I couldn't find one with a stripped abdomen.

[skiingjeff]

Yeah, I've been looking as well. This one may remain a mystery as I haven't seen many more...