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Hoverflies (Syrphidae), tribe Volucellini

Larvae are scavengers in bumble-bee or wasp nests

Volucella inanis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Volucella inanis Volucella inanis
  • Cambridge: 19 Jul 2002; female
  • Large (16mm) fly with 3 striking broad yellow bands
  • Female, feeding on garden fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) flowers
  • Previously confined to southern counties, recently appears to be expanding northwards
  • V. zonaria is even larger with darker bands especially that on T2

Volucella pellucens (Linnaeus, 1758)

Volucella pellucens Volucella pellucens
  • Left: Garden, 29 Jun 2002
  • Right: Lime Kiln Close TL486560, 9 Jun 2009
  • Large dark fly with distinctive white band
  • Larger image
  • See Leucozona lucorum for a smaller hoverfly with a white band

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