Eristalis arbustorum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Wing length 7 to 10mm.
Season: April to November.
The genus Eristalis includes some of the most abundant hoverflies throughout the U.K.
The markings and colours on both sexes can vary, in some extreme cases the body can be nearly completely black.
The majority of species are very good mimics of Bees and wasps.
This is a widespread and common species throughout the United Kingdom and throughout Europe, down as far as North Africa in the south.
Habitat: A wide variety of habits this species populates: Including wet lands, gardens, farmlands and woodland edges. The larvae can tolerate polluted water in which the adults will breed in, such as puddles polluted with farm animal dung. Also, the larvae can be found in silage and compost heaps.
The adults are attracted to a variety of flowers including cow parsley, thistles, knapweeds, ragworts and umbellifers. The adult population are most abundant in the mid-summer months.