White Moustache - _TNY_1331
Here is a beautiful and very purple woodland geranium (Geranium sylvaticum) which is being visited by a bumblebee-mimicking hoverfly known as the narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris), also known as the greater bulb fly, large bulb fly or large Narcissus fly.
This fuzzy little fellow does not just imitate bumblebees in general, but there are several colour forms of this species, imitating different species of bumblebees.
The all-over orange colour tells this is a Merodon equestris narcissi, which primarily imitates the brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis).
Have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51924775530/ for a
Merodon equestris validus which instead imitates the red-tailed bumblebee (B. lapidarius).
In total, there are five different named colour forms within this species - plus intermediate forms.
White Moustache - _TNY_1331
Here is a beautiful and very purple woodland geranium (Geranium sylvaticum) which is being visited by a bumblebee-mimicking hoverfly known as the narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris), also known as the greater bulb fly, large bulb fly or large Narcissus fly.
This fuzzy little fellow does not just imitate bumblebees in general, but there are several colour forms of this species, imitating different species of bumblebees.
The all-over orange colour tells this is a Merodon equestris narcissi, which primarily imitates the brown-banded carder bee (Bombus humilis).
Have a look here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51924775530/ for a
Merodon equestris validus which instead imitates the red-tailed bumblebee (B. lapidarius).
In total, there are five different named colour forms within this species - plus intermediate forms.