Volucella zonaria

Volucella zonaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Genus:	Volucella
Species:	V. zonaria
Binomial name
Volucella zonaria (Poda, 1761)
Synonyms
Conops zonaria Poda, 1761

Volucella zonaria - Museum specimen

Volucella zonaria, the hornet mimic hoverfly, is a European species of hoverfly.^[1]

In Great Britain, it was only known from two specimens prior to 1940, so was regarded as rare. Since then, it has become increasingly widespread in many parts of the South and South East England, often in association with parks and gardens, where adults are usually seen visiting flowers. Elsewhere in England, only a few scattered records exist.

The larvae live as commensals in nests of wasps of the genus Vespula. Like all Volucella, the adults are migratory.

References

1. Stubbs, Alan E; Falk, Steven J (1983). British Hoverflies: An Illustrated Identification Guide. British Entomological and Natural History Society. pp. 253, xvpp.