Volucella

Volucella are strong, often hairy hoverflies that have developed impressive mimicry of bees and wasps. These large flies stand out in the hoverfly family because of their size, usually fifteen to twenty millimetres long, and thick body hair that copies the appearance of bees and wasps. Many species have bold yellow and black stripes or ginger-coloured hair on their thorax, similar to bumblebees. They are common across Britain and can be found in gardens, woodland edges, and flower-rich meadows from spring to autumn. Adult Volucella feed on nectar and pollen. Their larvae live as scavengers in the nests of social wasps and bumblebees, entering these nests to eat debris and dead insects. Their effective mimicry lets them be closely watched when they hover steadily near flowers before landing to feed.