Strange Insect

[rockyracoon]

Does anyone know what this is?


http://s1217.photobuc...ums/dd382/frizzytwig/

It's about an inch long. I found it in the garden but OH went to golf last week and got bitten twice by them (drew blood), so did a couple of the other golfers. He said it didn't sting, definitely a bite so I don't think it's a wasp. Anyone got any ideas, you might have to zoom in to ge a better look.

Thanks for any replies.

[excelsior-1]

it's a hoverfly.
there are several in the family - and they have evolved to look like wasps.

http://1.bp.blogspot....1E/s1600/IMG_6320.jpg

[rockyracoon]

Thank you excel, it was a bloody big bugger, a bit scary.

[excelsior-1]

your colourful language aside - it was my pleasure, i was happy to help you.

[kendra20]

Most probably a horsefly, nasty little critters, loads of them on our golf course. what ever you do dont scratch the bites becouse they go into nasty scabs and scar. Iv got loads on my legs that have been there for weeks. best treatment antiseptic cream. I make sure ive got insect repellent on now before i go out.

[FredPuli43]

It's a horse-fly. Now you know why horses rear when bitten by one! Painful. The fly's mouth parts work like a V- shaped chisel and gouge into you, drawing blood.

[Emily Ball]

It's volucella zonaria-largest of british hover flies.

[FredPuli43]

The female horse-fly draws blood because she needs it to lay her fertile eggs.Her mouth parts are designed for that. The males are harmless to us.

Never head of a hoverfly biting anyone! Where is the evidence that they do, even if reproductive females?

[chaptazbru]

I'm with Fred, don't think hover flies bite. I quite like them, they eat garden pests such as greenfly.

[rockyracoon]

My husband said they definitely bite, whatever they are, he caught them doing it.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, and its only the larvae of hoverflies that eat aphids etc. The adults live on polllen.