The National Biodiversity Data Centre has published a new illustrated guide to hoverflies which resemble bumblebees in Ireland and adjacent parts of Europe. This is a technical document, but we hope it might be of interest to some of you.
Recorders of pollinators like bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies will know that some hoverflies look like wasps, bumble bees, honey bees or solitary bees. In Ireland there are 10 hoverfly species which look like bumblebees, scattered among a number of different hoverfly genera. There are 5 more in adjacent parts of Europe’s Atlantic zone. These 15 Atlantic zone bumblebee-like hoverflies are keyed out together here for the first time. The features used in the keys are illustrated in colour, using focus-stacked photographic images produced by the author. Short notes are also provided, on each of the species included in the keys.
We are very grateful to Dr Martin Speight, who has produced this illustrated key for National Biodiversity Data Centre. It is full of beautiful images of hoverflies, and we hope it will encourage some of you to learn more about these insects and consider submitting records to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The image below shows the hoverfly Volucella bombylans.
Download the pdf guide: Illustrated key to hoverflies which resemble bumblebees in Ireland and adjacent parts of Europe
