Bombylius major

You may have seen big queen bumble bees buzzing round the garden looking for nest sites to start a new colony.  But this character is not a bee!

This is a fly, often called a bee-fly because it is superficially like a bee with its furry body.

It's one of my favourite spring insects (springsects) with its attractively marked wings, its long snout for sucking nectar from flowers and its shamelessly loud whining noise as it hovers.

They are very important pollinators, favouring blue and purple flowers, especially lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis).  But they will also visit others such as celandine and primrose.  They are around in April and May so spot them now.