# Bumble Bee Hover Fly (*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. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Bumblebee Fly ![Bumble Bee Hover Fly](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2012-06-04_14-34-01-volucelle.jpg&width=800) Photo: Thomas Bresson, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2012-06-04_14-34-01-volucelle.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Diptera - **Family:** Syrphidae - **Genus:** Volucella ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Disguise Master:** Bumble Bee Hover Fly has a fuzzy, banded body that mimics venomous bumblebees to scare away predators. - **Air Acrobot:** Bumble Bee Hover Fly can hover perfectly still in mid-air, allowing precise flower visits and escape maneuvers. - **Pest Patrol:** Bumble Bee Hover Fly larvae can eat many tiny garden pests, helping plants grow strong. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-35 mm - **Size:** 10-18 mm - **Lifespan:** 15-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding 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. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, aphids, soft-bodied insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Creeping Thistle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/creeping-thistle) (*Cirsium arvense*) — Feeds on nectar, helping thistle reproduction. - **Eats:** Black Bean Aphid (*Aphis fabae*) — Larvae consume aphids, controlling plant pests. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Provides food for insectivorous birds. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These flies are friendly and won't sting, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bumble Bee Hover Fly? Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Bumble Bee Hover Fly's wingspan? 20-35 mm ### How big is Bumble Bee Hover Fly? 10-18 mm ### How long does Bumble Bee Hover Fly live? 15-60 days ### How fast can Bumble Bee Hover Fly fly? 20 km/h ### What does Bumble Bee Hover Fly eat? Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae are mighty pest hunters. ### Where is Bumble Bee Hover Fly usually found? Urban areas ### How does Bumble Bee Hover Fly hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Bumble Bee Hover Fly: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumble-bee-hover-fly)