Hornet Mimic Hoverfly

Volucella zonaria

Very common in Southern England during the late Summer & early Autumn.

These are very large and wide Hoverflies have reddish-brown shining thorax with dark brown marks, and a reddish-brown scutellum.

The head shows a waxy yellow face, with yellow forehead and antennae.

The large ovoid compound eyes are reddish with dense and short hairs. In the Males they are very close to each other, so that the forehead is very narrow.

The abdomen is reddish yellow, with two wide black bands.

The underside has broad black bars. The first abdominal segment is black. The second tergite is chestnut brown.

This species mimics the European hornet (Vespa crabro) by its size, by its appearance and its buzzing flight.