Banded hoverfly, Volucella inanis
Banded hoverfly, Volucella inanis (submitted by NaturePlus user jeepster)
This large hornet mimic was previously only found around the London area but is spreading northwards, although it is localised and not often spotted. It looks similar to Volucella zonaria but is more yellowish than orange and the black bands are narrower. Like V. zonaria, the females lay their eggs in the nests of social wasps and hornets and the larvae parasitise wasp larvae. The adults can be seen from June to September in meadows, hedges and verges.
