Species details

Volucella inflata (Fabricius, 1794)

Biology

The larva develops in sap runs, such as those on Oak Quercus sp. Females have been observed ovipositing in sap runs, including those caused by Goat moth Cossus cossus caterpillars. It is generally found in, or close to woodland with over mature trees, where adults visit flowers such as brambles Rubus sp., Dog Rose Rosa canina and Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium in sunny, open rides and glades. A mark-release-recapture study in Northamptonshire (Ball & Morris, 2004) showed that even though sap runs are difficult to find, populations of this fly can be very large.

Distribution

There has been some expansion of range northwards and westwards, although nowhere near as marked as in some other Volucella, with recent records from South Yorkshire and in South Wales. Locally frequent in heavily-wooded areas in the south of Britain, mainly south-east of a line from the Severn to the Wash.

Status

Was listed as "Notable" by Falk, 1991, but dropped from this status by Ball & Morris, 2010 who consider it LOWER RISK.