Whist watching dragonflies emerging from their exuviae this morning by my pond I noticed this little critter slowly climbing a leaf. At first I thought it was a honey bee (about the same size) but it was moving very slowly and when I returned a couple of hours later it was still there not moving. Is it a robber or hover fly of some description? Cannot find exact match in my books.
This appears to be a soldier fly (family Stratiomyidae) known as the long-horned General - https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157632868741826/
Thanks Flapdoodle, I guess it had just emerged. I saw plenty of larvae in the pond last year and wondered what would become of it.
