Thursday 23 March 2000

Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens)

OTHER NAMES: Pellucid Hoverfly
Latin Etymology: Volucella (?) pellucens (?)
Adult Pellucid Fly (Volucella pellucens) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2010

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 15-16mm  /  Wingspan: 30mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A large and bulbous species of hoverfly with a distinctive large black and white set of markings, the pellucid fly is found across Northern Eurasia.  They are mainly found in woodland and is a brood parasite for wasps - entering their underground nests and laying their eggs where the hatching larvae feed on the remains of dead wasps.  It generally favours brambles as one of it's main plant choices.

Related Species: 
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Volucella 
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM A resident species which is seen in Summer
 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: 
BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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