Pellucid Hoverfly, Volucella pellucens, Syrphidae, Diptera, Male, UK. Aka White Belted Plume Horn Hover-fly.
Pellucid Hoverfly, Volucella pellucens, Syrphidae, Diptera, male, UK. Aka White Belted Plume Horn Hover-fly. Volucella pellucens is a hover-fly. It occurs in much of Europe, and across Asia to Japan. It is about 15–16 mm in length with a broad body and is one of the largest flies in Europe. It is mainly black, but the front part of the abdomen has a broad yellow band, giving it the appearance of a bee or wasp. The two wings are transparent, as with most flies, but the leading edge is amber, and there is a brown patch on each wing. The mimicry of bees or wasps in shape and colouration is shown by other hover-flies, and it thought that this protects against falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting.
Size: 5074px × 3447px
Location: UK
Photo credit: © Naturepix / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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