Fly id help

Discussion

8 replies

Posted by gary cox on September 3, 2010 at 2:53 PM

not for critic
can anyone help id this fly ?
approx 20mm long, love's Buddleja
really big yellow mouth parts which it extends into flower.
some sort of Drone Fly ?, cant find anything like the large yellow "snout"

Posted by John Robinson on September 3, 2010 at 3:07 PM

Gary
I think its a hover fly - maybe one of the Volucella type.
Not sure though. Some one will know.
Cheers
JohnR

Posted by gary cox on September 3, 2010 at 3:20 PM

Thanks for your reply John.
It is quite a large Fly at least 20mm as I said, and very noisy when in flight.
When I first saw it I thought it was a Hornet. I know it is not but thats what it resembles.

Posted by Matt Cole on September 3, 2010 at 3:28 PM

Hi Gary, I think it's the hoverfly - Volucella zonaria. Nice shot too.

Matt

Posted by gary cox on September 3, 2010 at 3:31 PM

Yes thats it thanks.
I have never seen one before
it really stood out flying around the Buddleja

using you id I googled it and found this link-
http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/insects-and-invertebrates/73371-volucella-zonaria-hoverfly.html

spot on

Posted by Geoffrey Baker on September 3, 2010 at 4:12 PM

It's a great close-up whatever it is

Geoff.

Posted by Barrie Courtenay on September 4, 2010 at 4:17 AM

Superb macro Gary,nice clean background

Posted by Maggie Campbell on September 4, 2010 at 5:23 PM

Defintiely a hoverfly. There are hundreds of them in Derbyshire. If you haven't seen them before have a look at some crackers David Taylor has posted on this site.

Posted by David Taylor on September 4, 2010 at 6:55 PM

Thanks, Maggie,

Gary, this is a really good site IMO.

http://www.hoverfly.org.uk/portal.php

An excellent image, hope to see more. A tad larger next time maybe.