Huge wasp/bee identification!

[ddiogyn]

Spotted this huge wasp/bee, at least 3cm long, made a monstrous buzz. What is it?

[selfraising]

I saw one of those in my garden the other day, sure it was the same. It had brown eyes instead of black and a yellow mark down the centre of its face. Looked more bee shaped than a wasp but no idea what it was.

[WrexTheDragon]

Volucella zonaria - hoverfly

[DarkCrow]

Volucella zonaria - hoverfly

at 3 cm? blummin eck!!

[selfraising]

It must have been a giant hoverfly because I've got loads in my garden but this thing was at least 2 or 3 times the size.

[binley100]

I've got loads of hoverflies but they're not that big and I haven't heard them buzzing. I've even got some in the GH but I'm hoping they're doing some good in there.

[WrexTheDragon]

The wingspan is 4.5 cm. It does impersonate a hornet but has no sting.

[Nicos]

Strangely- to me- it looks harmless- although at that size I would certainly have a double-take!!!

[Two_Sheds]

Volucella zonaria - hoverfly

specifically the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly. There are over 270 British species apparently. More pix here

[Nicos]

Gosh- what a fantastic site 2sheds!!!

I'd never had guessed the right hand 'bee' was infact a hoverfly- until I read up about the different shaped wings!
Also it's a male- from the eyes!...ooooo..I feel I'm learning every day on this here Vine!

[SueA]

I've never seen a hovefly that big, it looks a beauty!
I looked up hoverflies a month or so ago as well because I found a couple of weird looking creatures in the pond on a dead frog (think the cat might have got it!) & wondered what they were. From the books I had I thought they must be rat-tailed maggots which are the larvae of the drone fly/hoverfly & I read up about them online.It said they live in sewage & stagnant water, I was quite upset as the pond is tiny but pretty clean & has plants, frogs/tadpoles/snails etc. all living happily in it (apart from the dead one of course!)
Don't look at the photo if you're about to eat your tea/dinner etc. but this is one of the larvae I found.

[selfraising]

Gosh I never realised there were so many different types of hover fly. The markings are quite beautiful.

[quark1]

I also saw something quite 'huge' in my garden a couple of weeks ago - guessing about an inch long and looking something in the wasp/bee/hoverfly family.

Went for a camera and they'd flown away.

It was a conjoined pair doing something I strongly 'disapprove' of in public and especially my garden! lol!

[Lorraine70]

Last year I got a few giant wood wasps in and around the small copse of pine trees I have on my land. I nearly died when I saw them as they are HUGE and look really menacing - thought they were some extra-terrestrial wasp!!!! Their bodes grow to 30mm in length and they are so noisy. One got into my polytunnel and I was too freaked out to go inside until the wasp had left. What a wuss I am!!