<< Previous Next >>

Volucella pellucens


Volucella pellucens
Photo Information
Copyright: Catherine Dijon (CatherineD) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 861 W: 57 N: 4006] (14097)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-22
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100 mm F2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/60 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Hoverflies (Syrphidae) of Belgium, Syrphidae (Hover flies) of Europe-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-26 10:42
Viewed: 3211
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Another beauty for my collection of hoverflies! I found this one in a wood (Natural Reserve), on a flower of (Devils-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis).

Volucella pellucens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family : Syrphidae

Volucella pellucens occurs in much of Europe, and across Asia to Japan. It is about 15-16 mm in length with a broad body. It is mainly black, but the front part of the abdomen has a broad yellow band, giving it the appearance of a bee or wasp. The two wings are transparent, as with most flies, but the leading edge is amber, and there is a brown patch on each wing.
The mimicry of bees or wasps in shape and colouration is shown by other hover-flies, and it thought that this protects against falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting.
The adult Volucella pellucens is usually found in woodland, but will enter gardens. It lives on nectar and pollen, as with most hover-flies, and visits flowers from May to October, showing a distinct preference for bramble. It typically flies at head height.
The female enters the underground paper nests of the common wasp Vespula vulgaris, or the German wasp, Vespula germanica, and lays her eggs. Despite the conspicuous nature of the intruder, the hosts do not appear to register her presence as she makes her way into the otherwise well-guarded nest entrance.
When the eggs hatch, the larvae drop to the bottom of the nest chamber where they feed as scavengers on debris. This may include dead wasp grubs and adults, remains of food brought into the nest by the wasps and other insects living there. Mature larvae are sometimes on the combs and have been recorded feeding on dead or moribund wasp larvae and pupae which were left in the combs when the nest was abandoned by the wasps in the autumn. Fully grown larvae leave the nest and pupate in the soil below. If the host nest is in the roof or walls of a house then it is not unusual for the larvae to end up crawling about in the dwelling-space.
Adult hoverflies emerge the following year from about mid-May to June. (Wikipedia)
nglen, flashpoint, horias, jconceicao, cloud, cirano, tuslaw, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

hallo Catherine
this is beautiful !!!
great compo and beautiful colours and very good light
super!!
greeting lou

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2009-10-26 11:10]

Hi Catherine. One more as you say for your colection. This is a unusual looking one. Which you have taken with fine detail and natural colours. Stands out well from the plain BG.
Well taken TFS.
Nick..

ciao Catherine!
excellent macro with a good cleaning details...compliment for this new entry in your collection of hoverflies..

greetings sERGIO

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 123 N: 2341] (7912)
  • [2009-10-26 13:07]

Dear Catherine!

You are right, it really is a beauty. The nicely blurred background and its delicate pastel colours highlight the insect's beauty and characteristics at best. The rich details add to the value of the picture.

Kind regards

Markus

Ciao Catherine, lovely hoverfly on a beautiful flower, splendid blurry BG, wonderful natural colors, great sharpness and fine details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • horias Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 837 W: 58 N: 2084] (11033)
  • [2009-10-26 13:10]

Catherine
What a great capture!!!
Wonderful sharp details, lovely colors and flowers!
Horia

Hello Catherine,

Excellent capture.
Beautiful colours with great detail.
Lighting and composition are fantastic.

  • Great 
  • cloud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 497 W: 111 N: 1535] (9539)
  • [2009-10-26 14:28]

Hello Catherine,
Your hover-fly is perfectly sharp, all the details are pretty showed especially eyes and wings have very interesting pattern and colours. Clear smooth BG complete nice composition.
Regards, Pawel

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2009-10-26 15:48]

Salut Catherine,tu as raison d'ecrire "une autre beaute'"! Mais quelle merveille et sourtout quelle tres belle composition,des details fantastiques,une autre macro tres tres professionel,je gout deja les panoramas du Maroc signee' par toi et prochainement sur ces ecrans..ehhe...bonne journee',LUCIANO

  •      
  • jignasi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2118 W: 0 N: 3424] (27917)
  • [2009-10-26 16:01]

Delicada composición y un magnífico trabajo con la luz y los colores !

Saludos Catherine.

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2009-10-26 16:16]

Slav Catherîne,
This is very good macro shot.Great composition and very nice colors.Excellent POV,sharpness and details.TFS.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2009-10-26 18:25]

Super macro image Catherine!!
Both the Hoverfly and beautiful bloom are shown with very fine detail and gorgeous colors. You seem to have even gotten a tiny leafhopper in the BG.
Love the eye catching composition as well as the overall clarity and exposure!! Well done!!
Ron

Hi and Good Morning MF Catherine,

Another marvelous capture of a beautiful hoverfly from an unusual but great POV with excellent DOF, clrity and fine composition.
TFS and have a nice new day MF!
Cheers,

Bayram
Ps. Sorry for delaying in commenting since i was verry bussied with educational (both diurnal and nocturnal) obligations yesterday!

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF