Marmalade hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus
Episyrphus balteatus is one of the most common and distinctive hoverflies in the UK, Europe, North Asia and North Africa. It is a small species, about 10mm long and has an orange marmalade-coloured abdomen with narrow black bands. E. balteatus has large migrations from mainland Europe during the summer and autumn and can be the most common fly in the garden when this occurs. Adult hoverflies are beneficial as flower pollinators, and the larvae are aphid predators so are important biological control agents of aphid pests which damage crops.
