So aches and pains still confide me to the house but the garden pond and surrounds are amazing at the moment - this hoverfly flew in today and so with insect book in hand I tried and failed miserably to identify it so you tell me, it looks in pristine condition until you zoom it and then its wings are quite tatty….
Hi Clare it is Volucella pellucens,Leucozona leucorum is a species which occurs in Spring.This specie lives as a larvae in the nests of Common and German Wasps scavenging on detritus and food remains as well as dead wasps and grubs,one of the more impressive bee mimics,nice pics :)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Steve - any common names, I'm no good at remembering latin!
ReplyDeleteHavn't come across anything for this species,sorry.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this species referred to as a Pellucid hoverfly, but that isn't exactly a "common" name!
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