Pocota personata

Arguably the finest bumblebee mimic in the European hoverfly fauna. Its small head size in relation to its body, and the strikingly lemon bands make it readily identifiable.

Pocota is associated with very old trees in woodland and semi-natural parkland, perhaps especially Beech, but also recorded around old Sycamore and Ash. Adults also like Hawthorn blossom and males are occasionally seen hovering in a very laboured manner.

April to June with a peak in late May and early June.

The larvae develop in rot holes and other tree cavities filled with water or wet detritus often at some height, and females are most often seen investigating these (looking like white-tailed bumblebees entering an aerial nest).

Scarce but widespread in England - careful searching of veteran tree sites in May is revealing it is not quite as rare as previously thought.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. The Melton Country Park record of 13th May 2012 is believed to be the first record of this species in VC55.