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Animal India - Wasp-mimicking Hover Fly (Mesembrius Sp.)

The wasp-mimicking hoverfly (Mesembrius sp.) is bright yellow in color with black stripes and can be found in Australia, India, England, and the UK. There are three conspicuous black markings on the thorax, and the abdomen is banded with black and yellow. In the 2nd segment, the black bands are connected by a median band. The wings are tinted with a pale brown. This fly is commonly found either resting on leaves or feeding on flowers. Its warning colors are effective at mimicking a wasp. It has short antennae and a single pair of wings, indicating it is a fly. Hoverflies have smaller antennae and larger eyes than wasps and bees, with their eyes appearing to wrap around their head. The wing-vein pattern helps to identify it as a hoverfly. This photo was taken in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on 07/03/2024. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto)

Photo ID	#11053636
Date Taken	7 March 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto

wasp-mimicking hoverfly Mesembrius sp. bright yellow black stripes Australia India England UK thorax markings banded abdomen median band pale brown wings resting on leaves feeding on flowers warning colors short antennae single pair of wings fly identification smaller antennae larger eyes eye morphology wing-vein pattern Tehatta West Bengal forest habitat Soumyabrata Roy NurPhoto insect mimicry pollinators diptera entomology mimicry defense aposematic coloration insect photography hoverfly species ecological adaptation