Bumblebee mimics

It has been a period of mixed fortunes with wet weather forcing the cancellation of a meeting in North Devon followed by a heatwave making field trips  unpleasant and unproductive. In one small window I tried Dartmoor again without success and I keep seeing but not clinching good looking flies that could be new for the year.


Regardless of this my list has climbed and one of the things that has helped has been the addition of several bumblebee mimics.



Large Bulb Fly


A pair of Large Bulb Flies (Merodon equestris) appeared on a Bristol Nats visit to Leigh Woods .


A friend caught a Large Bumblefly ( Criorhina ranunculi ) in his moth trap so I had a go at studio type portraits of it, with limited success. More practice required I think



Large Bumblefly

Finally this week the first Bumblebee Plumehorns  ( Volucella bombylans ) of the year have appeared with individuals at two sites.


Bumblebee Plumehorn

A few years ago I spent 6 months recording invertebrates and birds in the 1km square around my house. At that time I identified my first few hoverflies and I distinctly remembered one that I have not been able to find since. 

Last week that issue was finally resolved with a fine Blotch-winged Whitebelt ( Leucozona leucorum) at a local National Trust house. It was such a relief.


Blotch-winged Whitebelt

So, as May draws to a close I feel that I am on target for my 100 species with 75 now seen and confirmed. Here's to a warm but not too warm June when I hope to add another 15.

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