![]() London: British Entomological and Natural History Society. ![]() British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide (1st ed.). ^ Stubbs, Alan E Falk, Steven J (1983).List of hoverfly species recorded in Britain.If the host nest is in the roof or walls of a house, then the larvae may end up crawling about in the dwelling space.Īdult hoverflies emerge the following year from about mid-May to June. Fully grown larvae leave the nest and pupate in the soil below. Mature larvae are sometimes on the combs and have been recorded feeding on dead or moribund wasp larvae and pupae that were left in the combs when the nest was abandoned by the wasps in the autumn. This may include dead wasp grubs and adults, remains of food brought into the nest by the wasps, and other insects living there. When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the bottom of the nest chamber, where they feed as scavengers on debris. pellucens larvae then feed on the hosts' young and dead adults. Despite the conspicuous nature of the intruder, the hosts do not appear to register her presence as she makes her way into the otherwise well-guarded nest entrance. The female enters the underground paper nests of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, or the German wasp, V. However, the difference between hoverflies and wasps or bees is hoverflies have two wings, and the Hymenoptera species have four.īiology Female feeding on an Apiaceae species, side viewĪdults live on nectar and pollen, as with most hoverflies, and visits a large range of flowers from May to October, showing a distinct preference for white flowers, such as Sambucus, Cornus, Ligustrum, Rubus idaeus, and bramble and Apiaceae, but they also feed on Asteraceae, Valeriana officinalis, Succisa pratensis, Chamerion angustifolium, and Urtica dioica. The mimicry of bees or wasps in shape and colouration is shown by other hoverflies, which is thought to protect against falling prey to birds and other insectivores that avoid eating true wasps because of their stings. The two wings are transparent, as with most flies, but the leading edge is amber, with a brown patch on each wing. This hoverfly has a broad, mainly black body, but the front part of the abdomen has a broad, yellow band, giving it the appearance of a bee or wasp. ![]() Volucella pellucens is about 13–17 mm in length, with a wing length about 10–15.5 mm. pellucens is usually found in woodlands and wooded hedgerows, but will enter gardens. This species occurs in much of Europe, and across the Palearctic to Japan. Volucella pellucens, the pellucid fly, is a hoverfly.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |