Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Volucella bombylans record (with photo)

Posted by Calilasseia on 24-06-2013 23:55
#1

Since I'm fairly sure about the ID of this insect,I've put it here instead of in the ID queries section.

I photographed what I thought at first sight to be a bumblebee of some sort, with the intention of identifying it at home later. When I viewed the photos at full size on my computer screen, I thought "hang on, that can't be Hymenoptera, it only has one pair of wings!" So, I went checking on some Syrphidae websites, and found a match - Volucella bombylans.

Record details for the specimen:

UK, Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SJ501855, 24/06/2013, 14:20 BST (metadata in digital images supplies the time). Ambient weather conditions: bright sunshine, moderately breezy.

I chose this photo out of the set, because if one looks closely at it when viewed at full size, it's possible to determine the presence of a haltere on the right hand side of the specimen.