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Bumblebee hoverfly  (Volucella bombylans)

 

The bumblebee hoverfly is a hoverfly that looks like a bumblebee. In order to make sure whether we have to do with a bumblebee hoverfly or a bumblebee the insect has to be inspected closer. The bumblebee hoverfly has two wings, the bumblebee four; the antennae are feathery, those of a bumblebee smooth;  as hoverflies do it practices hovering flight and is lazy by nature, the bumblebee in contrast is quick and hovering flight does not occur.

 

The Estonian name of the bumblebee hoverfly, kimaslas-kägusirelane, "bumblebee-cuckoo hoverfly",  says a great deal about this insect. In addition to its external similarity to the bumblebees we have to do with a bumblebee nest parasite. The larvae of the bumblebee hoverfly mainly develop in bumblebee nests where they eat the larvae of the bumblebees as well as organic residue generated in the  nest. Thus also the need to look like a bumblebee. How otherwise would they get into a bumblebee nest to lay eggs and later leave without the nest dwellers noticing it.

 

 

 

Two different bumblebee hoverflies can be found in Estonia. One is black with a red abdomen tip (mimics for instance the red-tailed bumblebee and the red-shanked carder bee) and the other with a yellow and white pattern (mimics bumblebees with a similar pattern, for instance the garden bumblebee). 

 

These hoverflies can be seen from May until September in meadows, at forest verges, bogs and elsewhere where there are flowering plants and bumblebee nests. The imagos of the bumblebee hoverflies feed on nectar, thus they can be found on several kinds of flowers. In addition they like to bask on sun-lit leaves and sometimes also land on a nature fans arm or leg.