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 Criorhina ranunculi (thanks Martin Hauser) Bumblebee mimic:
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| nick upton |
Posted on 21-04-2010 18:10
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 819 Joined: 12.03.10 |
I really thought this was a red-tailed bumblebee Bombus lapidarius until I looked very closely and saw the dipteran antennae and hint of halteres. I then thought maybe Volucella bombylans, but with wings closed (better mimicry!), big hind legs and no plumose aristas I think that makes this a Merodon equestris and this colour form is I think validus. Can anyone confirm this? Wlltshire, southwest UK 21.4.10 Nick Upton nick upton attached the following image:  [189.04Kb] Edited by nick upton on 21-04-2010 19:03 Nick Upton - naturalist and photographer |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 21-04-2010 18:11
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 819 Joined: 12.03.10 |
And another view...
nick upton attached the following image:  [122.34Kb] Nick Upton - naturalist and photographer |
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| Maddin |
Posted on 21-04-2010 18:43
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 Member Location: Sacramento CA USA Posts: 194 Joined: 30.06.05 |
This is much better than Merodon, it is Criorhina ranunculi. Very nice spring species. This species can have a white tip of the abdomen or can be nearly completely whitish/light brown..
Martin Hauser |
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| nick upton |
Posted on 21-04-2010 19:02
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Member Location: Wiltshire, UK Posts: 819 Joined: 12.03.10 |
Many thanks Martin for this really fast and knowledgeable response. That's why I post pics on this site! I read on the hoverfly recording scheme site that it's often active high up and may be much under reported as a result. Its status seems to be scarce, known from just 40 sites in the UK since 1960 according to info on the site. Maybe I should send this record in... Nick Upton Nick Upton - naturalist and photographer |
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