Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)

Name: Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)

Scientific name: Volucella bombylans

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 50

What are nature stars?

About: A common hoverfly found along hedgerows, in gardens and woodland. About 1.5cm long, with a rounded, very furry body, looking very similar to a bumblebee. Adults feed on nectar, the larvae live in bee and wasp nests where they are scavengers.

How to identify: Can be told from bumblebees bythe much bigger eyes and from other bumblebee mimic hoverflies, of which there are several, by the feathery antennae.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 80
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 50
• Traveller: 60

Fantastic fact: There are several different coloured varieties of this fly, mimicking several different species of bumblebee.

Photograph credit: Mick E. Talbot