Giant Hoverfly

[acurrall]

Hi I just joined this forum to post these pictures and hopefully get an identification.

I spotted this little monster sunning itself on a bin lid whilst waiting for a train at my local station (I was waiting for the train, not the hoverfly). The station is Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway and the postcode is DG4 6DQ.

The hoverfly wasn't at all interested in moving, even when I placed a pound coin next to it to give an indication of scale in the photos. Sorry about the quality of the shots, but I only had my phone camera with me.

Does anybody have an idea what it might be? I'd never seen one as big as this before.
Thanks,
Alan

P.s. I've just tried attaching the photos but only get this error message: "Sorry, but the maximum filesize for all Attachments is reached. Please contact the Board Administrator if you have questions."

Is there another way of forwarding these picture to you? Thanks, Alan

[Ian Andrews]

Can you describe it at all, in terms of the colour of the face and the abdomen (was it brown or black, say, or was it mimicking a wasp)? If it was really a large species, then there are not too many options, assuming you are sure that it was a hoverfly, and not another family.

You might also think of posting it on the iSpot (google it) site, at the moment while this site is waiting to be sorted out.

Ian

[bertie]

Hi,

I few minutes ago i found a large hoverfly in my garden. I caught it because it looked awesome and to show my dad. He told me to post it on here. After looking on the internet i think i found it.
http://www.uknature.co.uk/V.inanis-info.html
This was in Weston - super -Mare in North Somerset

Rob

[Roger K.A. Morris]

Hello

If you are in Sanqhuar then it won't be Volucella inanis.

If you still have a photo please send to me at roger.morris@dsl.pipex.com - I should be able to do it for you.

Regards

Roger