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Hoverfly; Mosca cernidora

Volucella zonaria

Description:

Female. Looks like a bee or a wasp but it is a fly disguised as a wasp. It has no sting and no poison. Volucella is a genus of large, broad-bodied hover-flies. They have distinctive feathery edges and the face is extended downward. The black mark that can be seen on the middle of the wings distinguish V. elegans from the very similar V. inanis They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and are often seen sunning on leaves. The larvae of most species live in nests of bumblebees and social wasps, where they are detritivores and larval predators.

Habitat:

Pine tree and evergreen forest. Dehesa de Valdelatas

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D500. Exposure Time: 1/640 sec.; f/13; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired. DSC_2681

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1 Comment

arlanda
arlanda 5 years ago

ID changed from V. elegans to V. zonaria

arlanda
Spotted by
arlanda

Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

Spotted on Jul 5, 2018
Submitted on Oct 29, 2018

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