Eristalinus taeniops. The Band-eyed Drone Fly. Wing length 8 mm
Flight Season…. April to October
This species is commonly known as the Stripe-Eyed Flower Fly, from the family Syrphidae,
A very strong flying Hoverfly which mimics the Honey Bee, with striking striped pattern eyes.
The larvae usually mature in polluted and stagnant water, they have a telescopic breathing tube that allows them to snorkel at the surface to breath.
Habitat… Open ground, Woodlands and freshwater sites.
Wide range of flowering plants visited, below you can see images of this male taeniops visiting yellow Ragwort and one image I believe of the Prickly Sow thistle (Sonchus asper) flower visited.