is a delicate fly only just over 1 cm, in length, with two
brownish tinged wings; the abdomen is long and thin and a
bright glossy black colour. (See illustration on page 16).
The thorax is similarly black but rather hunched up. This
allows the legs to be brought up and directed forwards
rather as in a dragon fly, which of course are also
carnivorous. The fore legs are orange in colour and are
pulled forward for grasping the prey, while the hind legs
are longer and designed for folding around the prey and
also for gripping a support while feeding. These insects
are generally seen flying searching for prey. They fly
low over grasses and other ground plants and can be
difficult to follow as they pass from a light patch into
shade,
Another fly seen was one of the bee mimics - Volucella
bombylans. This is one of the hover flies or Syrphids,
again a true fly. It is perhaps one of our most handsome
flies. It is also an excellent hoverer, but can often be
seen feeding on bramble flowers from early June onwards.
As a bee mimic it is unexcelled. To the uninitiated
it is indistinguishable from bees, indeed several bees.
There are a variety of colour forms resembling several
different species of bumble bee. They are broad bodied
flies with shining abdomen. The one I saw on this occasion
was all glistening black with the last segments of the
abdomen clothed in red hairs like one of the smaller red
tailed bumble bees. Amongst the more obvious features
which distinguish it from a bee, is its manner of approach
as it lands on a flower to feed. As they approach they fly
directly and settle immediately, whereas a bee will hover
around it for a while. When feeding, the fly will have its
two wings outstretched or only partially closed, while the
bee will have its four wings closed over its back. Examine
it head-on and you will see the rounded head almost
completely taken over by the large rounded eyes and, under
a lens , the antennae will be seen to be short and have a
plumose extension (the arista) which presumably has a
sensory function.
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