Volucella

The caterpillars of various moths consume the honey and waxen cells; the two-winged flies, Volucella and Conops, and the larvæ of what is either an Anthomyia or Tachina-like fly, and several species of another genus of flies, Anthrax, together with several beetles, such as the Meloë

Our Common Insects A Popular Account of the Insects of Our Fields, Forests, Gardens and Houses 1872

Then there are Conops and Volucella, the former of which lives like Tachina and Phora within the bee's body, while the latter devours the brood.

Our Common Insects A Popular Account of the Insects of Our Fields, Forests, Gardens and Houses 1872

And a suspicion comes to one's mind: can it be that the Volucella and the rest are not what the accepted theories of natural history call them, namely, enemies, grub killers sacking the wasps 'nest?

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

Then what need is there for the Volucella to disguise herself as a wasp?

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

Volucella grub, both of them white and selected so as not to fill the cell entirely.

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

The wasps make no mistake: they extirpate the Saperda grub, kill it, fling it on the dust heap; they leave the Volucella grub in peace.

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

Seeing that identity of shape and costume does not save the Polistes, how will the Volucella fare, with her clumsy imitation?

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

But there is no deception about the Volucella grub.

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

Here, nevertheless, Volucella grubs are found, on the combs, among the busy wasps.

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869

They are the eggs of the Volucella, or bumblebee fly (Volucella zonaria, LIN.)

The Life of the fly; with which are interspersed some chapters of autobiography Jean-Henri Fabre 1869