Helophilus trivittatus (Fabricius, 1805) Wing length 10.25 mm to 12.25 mm.
Flying Season…. May to October
Larger than other species in the same genre and regarded as the most attractive. H. trivittatus is widespread but never common. It is frequently found visiting thistles and visits a wide variety of flowering plants such as Yellow Ragwort, umbellifers and mayweed.
Habitat… tendency to favour coastal areas and regularly occurs in drier situations than is typical of the genus. Migrates to most of the British Isles, although favours the south more than the north.