What Are These ?

[Paul Harfield]

Hi
Could some body identify the following for me please Both from the garden over the weekend

The first is a moth larva feeding on Nettle and remarkably well camouflaged. Its resting pose in the first picture made it look similar to the flowers, in shape and colour. In the second image it is feeding on the flowers.

The next one is a large Hover Fly that appeared in the garden yesterday. It was as large as one of the Volucella species but I am struggling to put a name to this one. Can anyone help please. The second image is not as crisp as I would like but it only settled in this pose very briefly before disappearing over the fence

[Essex Bertie]

I've not seen these myself, but looking at 'Manley'', the caterpillar looks like 'The Spectacle' - a known nettle feeder. In 'Ball & Morris', the hover fly is Sericomyia silentis - common in Hampshire and often found away from its breeding habitat (acid wetland or heathland).
Cheers

[Paul Harfield]

Hi Essex Bertie

Both IDs look good to me Thankyou