Wednesday 18 August 2010

The Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)

The marmalade hoverfly is relatively small (9–12 mm) - a member of the Syrphidae family and found all over the world. It can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen and nectar.  The larva is terrestrial and feeds on aphids.


Males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes, i.e., left and right compound eyes touching at the top of the head (the one in the pictures is a male, taken today in Bruich Jerich)

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