A new record for the garden.

This big beast has been visiting Marjoram flowers outside our back door for about two weeks but I have only just identified it. Volucella zonaria or the Hornet mimic hoverfly, about 2 cms in length. It looks pretty fearsome as it has a bright yellow 'beak' down the front of its head. I also learnt a new word today because the larvae live as commensals in the nest of wasps. The derivation is from: com= together and Mensa=table meaning they eat from the same table where one organism benefits from another without affecting it. I hope I'm not blinding you with science!