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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