Aug 8, 2022
Doros profuges – Phantom Hoverfly
This really big and beautiful hoverfly was called “phantom” because of its rareness and elusiveness. They mimic potter wasps like Ceriana genus, but these genuses located in different parts of Syrphidae so they evolved that mimicry independently.
Like Wikipedia says, they occur in Oak and Ash woodlands on rotten tree-trunks and trunks with sap. So that species is arboreal and hard to catch in forests. They visit flowers like ox-eye daisy and dropwort. You are more likely to find these hoverflys on blueberry bushes, where i took these pictures. The larva is a myrmecophile. Imago life span is short: usually from the end of May into June.