Episyrphus balteatus, (De Geer, 1776)
Wing Length: 6mm to 10.25mm.
Family: Syrphidae
Tribe: Syrphini
One of Europe’s most common hoverflies and is commonly called the “Marmalade Fly”,
Widespread throughout the Palaearctic region and can be found all over Europe, North Asia and North Africa. Adults can be seen on wing all year round in Spain.
This is an extremely variable species, adult colours do vary considerably, influenced by the temperature in which the larvae exist. Hot weather produces adults with more orange colour, larvae in cooler conditions produce darker coloured adults. The colour patterns mostly appear wasp like to other animals, such as birds, this helps to deter from predation.
Adults feed on flowers like Tansy, Ragwort, Cow Parsley etc. and is among the very few species of flies capable of crushing pollen grains and feeding on them.
Episyrphus balteatus larvae helps towards bio control of crops, as they feed on a wide variety of aphid species. A welcome friend to crop growers, as they will feed on Cabbage aphids and Cereal aphids.
Habitat…. Various habitations, such as, hedgerows, farmlands, coastal, parks, woodlands, wetlands, meadows and gardens.
Males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes (“holoptic eyes” are eyes that meet along the median dorsal line of the head) i.e., left and right compound eyes touching at the top of their heads. The female’s eyes like most other female hoverfly species, are set further apart.