All about insects 2022

Lol Bob!
Could it have been one of these BD?
en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Tabanus_sudeticus

Like it Bob ...

I think you are right there Wendy. I did find that variety on the internet. I found it on our patio, so I caught in it a glass dish and put in on a piece of white card on the bench, covered by the glass dish. It looked a bit angry, so I said to my mate, 'when i'm ready, you remove the dish and I will stand waaay over here with my long lens on'. He said, rude things :-) I gave in and moved in close with the macro lens on, and managed a few shots before it flew away. It was like a Lancaster bomber taking off!

As a (ex) horse rider I've been bolted with 3 times and twice was as a result of Horseflies - and boy are they noisy and boy do they hurt when they get you

Billysdad said:

I would say this a Horsefly ... but what a whopper! The internet says Horseflies range from 10 - 25mm in lenth. This one must have been 35 or 40mm. It was absolutely huge. I caught it, took a few snaps then let it go.

Whatever, those are brilliantly clear photos BD.

I believe this is a Pellucid Hoverfly. One of the largest flies in Britain. Apparently Pellucid means transparent .... I didn't know that either ... 

Great pics BD, so clear & detailed, thanks for info!

A Flying Ant taken this afternoon in the garden enjoying the hot weather.

Hornet Robberfly