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What's this bug/ insect? & bumblebee advice
EC
Posts: 22
Last year I decided to go organic. Properly. No more cheating when the slugs are destroying precious veg in my courtyard garden. We had masses of butterflies, moths and bees this year which was great until the caterpillars slowly ate everything 
but we have had some fascinating bugs and insects, like little black bumblebees and the fly/ insect pictured
Does anyone know what it is?
Also does anyone have any tips to ensure we keep the bumblebees happy And thriving?
all advice will be appreciated!
Many thanks 
Last edited: 01 October 2016 17:55:07
0
Posts
Early flowering plants are useful for bumble bees, they're out and about early. There are plenty of summer flowers without making extra effort. I have a very early flowering pulmonaria, P. rubra I think (though it could be a hybrid, I never get seedlings ) crocus, snowdrops and Nonea lutea which has germinated over the last few weeks and will flower February/March in normal years but was flowering on NYD this year. And some water when it's dry
Can't assess the size of your fly but if it's big have a look at Volucella zonaria, a hoverfly.
In the sticks near Peterborough
One of the hoverfly tribe - possibly the Pellucid Fly http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/pellucid-fly
As for keeping the bumblebees happy - grow winter flowering shrubs and flowers to provide them with nectar on sunny days when they wake up.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.