




Volucella bombylans
The Bumble Bee Hover Fly looks like a bumblebee but is actually a fly! It loves to visit flowers and helps them grow by spreading pollen.
Habitat: Urban areas
The Bumble Bee Hover Fly has a fuzzy, stout body with black and yellow or orange bands, closely mimicking a bumblebee. It possesses large compound eyes and very short antennae, visually distinguishing it from true bees.





Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Wow! Its babies are amazing gardeners, munching on tiny plant-eating insects!
Wow! Its colors can change to mimic different local bumblebees!
Wow! This 'bee' only has two wings, not four like a real one!
Wow! This clever fly can even fly backward while hovering!
Bumble Bee Hover Fly has a fuzzy, banded body that mimics venomous bumblebees to scare away predators.
Bumble Bee Hover Fly can hover perfectly still in mid-air, allowing precise flower visits and escape maneuvers.
Bumble Bee Hover Fly larvae can eat many tiny garden pests, helping plants grow strong.
Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae are mighty pest hunters.
Age differences: Larvae are carnivores, eating aphids; adults feed on nectar and pollen.

Cirsium arvense
Feeds on nectar, helping thistle reproduction.
Aphis fabae
Larvae consume aphids, controlling plant pests.
%2C_Parc_de_Woluw%C3%A9%2C_Brussels_(13042792905).jpg&width=800)
Parus major
Provides food for insectivorous birds.
Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur.
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Danger
1/5 · Very low
These flies are friendly and won't sting, but it's best to watch them from a distance.
20-35 mm
10-18 mm
15-60 days
20 km/h
Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae are mighty pest hunters.
Urban areas
Foraging
6
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.