Among the best known wasp and bee mimics are the hoverflies, which do an impressive impersonation of their more dangerous distant cousins. Many hoverflies have evolved these black and yellow ‘don’t mess with me’ markings, but are just bluffing – they are completely harmless. The ruse is very effective however, and even humans who have never encountered hoverflies before are sometimes very nervous in their presence !
This common Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) above is a good example of one of the many species of hoverflies that use this mimicry.
Please send in your sightings using the form below, or email sightings@lnhg.org.uk with the details if you prefer. If you are not sure of the identity of your species, please send a photo to sightings@lnhg.org.uk, or put one on the LNHG Facebook page.
Comments or questions are welcome.
By filling in this form you consent to your record being passed on to the appropriate recording scheme. Your email address will not form part of the record and will not be passed on to anyone.
Carl Farmer
LNHG Biological Records Manager
Photo by Carl Farmer
Camera : Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150