Descriptions and a key to the larval and puparial stages of north-west European Volucella (Diptera, Syrphidae)
Rotheray, G.E.
Studia Dipterologica 6(1): 103-116
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0945-3954 Accession: 003400077
The larval and puparial stages of the 5 north-west European Volucella Geoffroy, 1762 species are described. Breeding sites and larval feeding modes are discussed. In terms of larval feeding modes Volucella is an unusual genus within Syrphidae in having more than one feeding mode. The larvae of most species are saprophages and/or entomophages within nests of social aculeates (Hymenoptera), but Volucella inflata (Fabricius, 1794) is a saprophage feeding on microorganisms within exudations of tree sap.