Volucella zonaria

We found this stunning hoverflyc in the garden, and it seemed ideal subject matter for a blip on a day when there was little time for photography. It's a big hoverfly, at almost 2cm long the largest in Britain. Being mainly orangey-yellow on the abdomen, with dark bands and a dark brown thorax, this fly is an excellent hornet mimic. Only a very rare visitor to the country as recently as the 1940s, in recent years it has become a common species in southern England and is still spreading northwards, perhaps as a result of the warmer climate.

It seems to have been a day for accidents. I broke my coffee mug first thing, and shortly after the fitters arrived, one of them stood on a rotten floor board and put his foot through our kitchen ceiling. I was sitting at the computer when I hear the ominous crash and sound of falling plaster, and arrived in the kitchen at about the same time as the fitter. He loked rather sheepish, but I just found it funny - so glad we hadn't restored the kitchen first! The hole has now been repaired, and new floorboards fitted. We've revised our colour scheme, and are now going for something a bit more unusual - I just hope it works!!