NEN Gallery

A relatively small hoverfly (9�12 mm) of the Syrphidae family. The upper side of the abdomen is patterned with orange and black bands with secondary black bands on the 3rd and 4th dorsal plates and of faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax. can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen and nectar. They often form dense migratory swarms, in Autumn. It is among the very few species of flies capable of crushing pollen grains and feeding on them. The larva is terrestrial and feeds on aphids. It mimics the solitary wasp. Picture taken at Hinxworth 26th July 2011.