I seem to be blessed with some of our largest UK hoverflies this year! This time it'sVolucella inanis, a nearly 2cm wasp-mimic. The larvae of this one actively parasitize wasp nests, rather than being in a symbiotic relationship like those of Volucella zonaria (photos of which I posted a few days ago.)
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
@BobTheGardener Excellent shots of those "giant" hoverflies!
This morning, as I was perusing my Geranium Rozanne, caught sight of this sleeping bee. I tickled it gently to wake it up and here's the result. Looks like a miniature bee, I'm posting 3 similar pics offering different angles for easier ID, hoping that someone will come up with the right ID. This specimen was about 6 or 7 cm long.
And a rather worn-out red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) feeding on my Monarda flowers.
I think the fly may beEristalis tenax (Common Drone Fly), which have variable markings and come from rat-tailed maggots in ditches etc. (and in my comfrey brewing buckets!)
A bee mimic (for protection only - it doesn't prey on bees.)
You'd think wasps would be easy but you need photos of the front, side and top to get an accurate ID and even then the markings vary quite a lot. When they won't sit still this can be a lot harder than it sounds but luckily this one was very obliging and had perfect markings so I can finally add common wasp to my garden list.
I'm on 99 moths now after my success with trapping and thought this might be species 100, but it turns out I'd already found one last year. It's getting quite hard to remember what's on the list now Makes a nice pair with the wasp though. It also shows just how spiky borage is up close.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Looks like a miniature bee, I'm posting 3 similar pics offering different angles for easier ID, hoping that someone will come up with the right ID. This specimen was about 6 or 7 cm long.
I can tell you it's male but that's about it sorry. Possibly one of the furrow bees but male bees are tricky at the best of times. Assuming it's 6-7mm not cm that is
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Looks like a miniature bee, I'm posting 3 similar pics offering different angles for easier ID, hoping that someone will come up with the right ID. This specimen was about 6 or 7 cm long.
I can tell you it's male but that's about it sorry. Possibly one of the furrow bees but male bees are tricky at the best of times. Assuming it's 6-7mm not cm that is
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