Volucella pellucens
it is a a large syrphid fly with a distinctive pale band across the abdomen and large dark spots on the middle of the wing.
Fascinatingly the larvae of these flies grow inside the nests of the vespula wasps, both the common and german wasps. They feed on the dead wasps and larvae and other detritus in the nest. They can continue to feed and grow in the nest in the Autumn after the nest is abandoned by the wasps.
The adults live on nectar and maybe pollen - this one has pollen on it from the flowers it has visited.
FlyDay Friday
U2 - The Fly
Volucella pellucens
it is a a large syrphid fly with a distinctive pale band across the abdomen and large dark spots on the middle of the wing.
Fascinatingly the larvae of these flies grow inside the nests of the vespula wasps, both the common and german wasps. They feed on the dead wasps and larvae and other detritus in the nest. They can continue to feed and grow in the nest in the Autumn after the nest is abandoned by the wasps.
The adults live on nectar and maybe pollen - this one has pollen on it from the flowers it has visited.
FlyDay Friday
U2 - The Fly