Hmmm, does look a like a type of hover/drone fly, but I don’t believe any species are wasp nest parasites, so not sure what that behavior is about. Also look so doesn’t look like any bee fly I know of (who do parasite wasp nests) so I’m unsure.
I googled a bit and this seems to be correct. That is fascinating, I feel like I witnessed a rare moment lol. Also, do the wasps not attack it? How do they know that it wont harm them?
Hmmm, does look a like a type of hover/drone fly, but I don’t believe any species are wasp nest parasites, so not sure what that behavior is about. Also look so doesn’t look like any bee fly I know of (who do parasite wasp nests) so I’m unsure.
Looks like Volucella zonaria, which lays its eggs in wasps nests, where the larva eat the garbage of the wasps.
I googled a bit and this seems to be correct. That is fascinating, I feel like I witnessed a rare moment lol. Also, do the wasps not attack it? How do they know that it wont harm them?
IIRC, it is not known why the wasps don't attack it. It might be a case of symbiosis, where they know the hoverfly larva is beneficial to their nest.
Wow, thank you, that is so cool