Hoverfly - Volucella Plumata
Taken at Strumshaw Fen on 26th June 2016 using Panasonic Lumix LX5 in macro mode.
 Fact File
Hoverfly - Volucella Plumata.
Species:
Order:
Family:		 Volucella bombylans. Variant Volucella plumata.
Diptera.
Syrphidae.
Larval Food:

Habitat:
Flies/Found:
Feature:
 The female lays its eggs in the nests of bumblebees and wasps. Larvae feed on nest debris and occasionally bee larvae.
Hedgerows, woodland margins and urban wasteland.
May - September.
This hoverfly is an excellent mimic of a bumblebee. There are two main varieties which mimic different species of bumblebee, one with an orange-red tail (V. bombylans) and the other with a white tail (V. plumata).