When it landed on one of my plant pots, it looked for all the world like a cute furry little bumblebee,with thick golden fur all down its sides (have a close look through its wings)..
It may be enough of a disguise to fool birds into leaving it alone, but it wasn't enough to fool me. Oh no! With those big bulgy eyes and the little fine antennae sticking out from the middle of its face, I knew that this was a hoverfly. "Hoorah!" I thought. "Another welcome critter to munch through my aphids."
I fished through my hoverfly book to put a name to it, knowing it would probably just be a Latin one. And there it was, Merodon equestris. See, told you, just a Latin name. Turns out that it is really variable in colour to mimic all sorts of bumblebees, but is identified by its all-dark back legs and the big bulge in the wing vein (see the close up below).
It is found throughout most of the UK, and likes 'warm sunny sheltered spots' and dandelions, so definitely one to watch for in your garden..
Now, just check the text to see what its larvae eat. Aphids, surely? Hold on a minute, what's this? 'Because this hoverfly can be a horticultural pest, attacking daffodil and other bulbs, it has been given the name of Large Bulb Fly.'
Boo! It's not quite the ally I imagined. But all part of life's rich garden tapestry, eh?