''Volucella'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often

territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, particularly belonging or connected to a country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually either the total area from which a state may extract power resources or a ...

. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and are often seen sunning on leaves. The

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e of most species live in nests of bumblebees and social wasps, where they are

detritivore Detritivores (also known as detrivores, detritophages, detritus feeders, or detritus eaters) are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, ...

s and larval predators.

Selected species

*''

Volucella anastasia ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

Hull Hull may refer to: Structures * Chassis, of an armored fighting vehicle * Fuselage, of an aircraft * Hull (botany), the outer covering of seeds * Hull (watercraft), the body or frame of a ship * Submarine hull Mathematics * Affine hull, in affi ...

, 1946 *''

Volucella arctica ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

Johnson Johnson is a surname of Anglo-Norman origin meaning "Son of John". It is the second most common in the United States and 154th most common in the world. As a common family name in Scotland, Johnson is occasionally a variation of ''Johnston'', a ...

, 1916 *''

Volucella bombylans ''Volucella bombylans'' is a large species of hoverfly belonging to the family Syrphidae. Distribution This species is present in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic realm, in the Near East and in the Nearctic realm. Habitat These hoverfl ...

'' ( Linnaeus,

1758 Events January–March * January 1 – Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (Carl von Linné) publishes in Stockholm the first volume (''Animalia'') of the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'', the sta ...

) *''

Volucella dracaena ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Curran *''

Volucella elegans ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Loew, 1862 *''

Volucella eugenia ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Williston, 1887 *''

Volucella evecta ''Volucella evecta'', the eastern swiftwing, is an uncommon species of hoverfly that has been considered a subspecies of ''Volucella bombylans'', but has been shown to be a distinct species. This species is a bumblebee mimic. It resembles a number ...

'' Walker , 1852 *''

Volucella facialis ''Volucella bombylans'' is a large species of hoverfly belonging to the family Syrphidae. Distribution This species is present in most of Europe, in the East Palearctic realm, in the Near East and in the Nearctic realm. Habitat These hoverfl ...

'' Williston , 1882 *''

Volucella inanis ''Volucella inanis'' is a species of hoverfly belonging to the family Syrphidae. Distribution This species is present in most of Europe, in eastern Palearctic realm, in the Near East and in North Africa. Description The adults reach long. T ...

'' ( Linnaeus,

) *''

Volucella inflata ''Volucella inflata'' is a large species of European hoverfly. Description ''V. inflata'' is a large, short-haired fly. Though a little smaller than most European species of ''Volucella'', typical body length is 12–15 mm and wing length i ...

'' (

Fabricius Fabricius ( la, smith, german: Schmied, Schmidt) is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *people from the Ancient Roman gens Fabricia: **Gaius Fabricius Luscinus, the first of the Fabricii to move to Rome * Johann Goldsmid (1587� ...

, 1794) *''

Volucella jeddona ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Bigot, 1875 *'' Volucella linearis'' Walker, 1849 *''

Volucella liquida ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Erichson in Wagner, 1841 *''

Volucella lutzi ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Curran, 1930 *'' Volucella matsumurai'' Han & Choi, 2001 *'' Volucella nigricans''

Coquillett Daniel William Coquillett (23 January 1856, Pleasant Valley, Ill. – 7 July 1911 Atlantic City, New Jersey) was an American entomologist who specialised in Diptera. He wrote a revision of the dipterous family Therevidae and many other scientifi ...

, 1898 *'' Volucella nigropicta'' Portschinsky, 1884 *''

Volucella pellucens ''Volucella pellucens'', the pellucid fly, is a hoverfly. Distribution and habitat This species occurs in much of Europe, and across the Palearctic to Japan. The adult ''V. pellucens'' is usually found in woodlands and wooded hedgerows, but wi ...

'' ( Linnaeus,

) *'' Volucella plumatoides'' Hervé-Bazin, 1923 *''

Volucella suzukii ''Volucella'' is a genus of large, broad-bodied, dramatic hover-flies. They have distinctive plumose aristae and the face is extended downward. They are strongly migratory and males are often territorial. Adults feed on nectar of flowers and ...

'' Matsumura, 1916 *'' Volucella tau'' Bigot, 1883 *'' Volucella unipunctata'' Curran, 1926 *'' Volucella zonaria'' ( Poda, 1761)

Gallery

File:Humleblomfluga02054.jpg, ''

'' var. ''bombylans'' female File:Volucella bombylans.jpg, ''Volucella bombylans'' var. ''plumata'' female File:Volucella inanis 20020718.jpg, ''

'' female File:Volucella pellucens, 2006-07-22.JPG, ''

'' female File:Volucella fg05.jpg, ''

'' female File:Volucella September 2007-2.jpg, '' Volucella zonaria'' female

References

Diptera of Asia Diptera of Europe Hoverfly genera Eristalinae Taxa named by Étienne Louis Geoffroy {{Syrphidae-stub