What is this insect?

Last post 02-08-2012 7:59 AM by AdamBorzy. 4 replies.

• 31/07/2012 06:26 PM
  coppethall Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 03 Apr 2012 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact insect.jpg H all! Could someone tell me what insect this is? I found it on the Buddleia in the garden. It was unusually large and very sluggish. Any ideas? Thanks

• 31/07/2012 06:51 PM	In reply to
  madmuncher Location: Nottinghamshire Joined on: 20 Mar 2010 Posts: 140	Reply | Contact It is type of hover fly..not sure which one from the family as there is quite many different sort, 'sun fly' is very similar. It is nectar eating fly that was propably trying to keep itself going with the nectar from the buddleia but propably got cold and wet and that's why it was being sluggish.

• 31/07/2012 07:03 PM	In reply to
  coppethall Location: United Kingdom Joined on: 03 Apr 2012 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Thank you! I think it's Volucella zonaria. Never see it before. Problem solved. Thanks!

• 01/08/2012 07:38 AM	In reply to
  Pesty Location: At a desk Joined on: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 324	Reply | Contact Hi Coppethall It is V. zonaria - one of the UKs largest hoverflies. Supposidly a hornet mimic, as a larva it feeds in wasp nests (initially on detritus but can also be a parasite). A species expanding its range in the UK - once confined to London and the South coast it has been spreading inland over the past few decades. 'Trying is the first step to failure' H.J.Simpson

• 02/08/2012 07:59 AM	In reply to
  AdamBorzy Location: AdamBorzy Joined on: 21 Apr 2012 Posts: 30	Reply | Contact Good job in identifying it... Volucella zonaria AKA hornet mimic hoverfly, one of the European species of hoverfly.