Oplodontha viridula (Fabricius, 1775)

Commonly known as “The Common Green Colonel”
Body Length 6 to 8mm
By appearance this Soldier Fly could easily be mistaken for a hoverfly. It is a variable coloured species, because the colour of the abdomen can vary from a striking lime green to almost a white colour or orange; but always with jagged black markings running down the spine of the fly.

A Widespread and common Soldier Fly, found over most of Europe and Throughout the Palearctic realm.

Habitat: Mainly water margins such as rivers and lakes, also damp or humid meadows with ponds or ditches; as often seen on waterside vegetation. Although saying this I have only seen it here in Alicante on very dry open land, feeding on pollen and nectar of “The Wild Thistle” (Eryngium Campestre).
The adults breed in water and the larvae have a wide tolerance of water conditions, from muddy shallow edges to deeper water among floating and emergent vegetation

Adult Season: May till September.

Images below are of the male and female. The female being larger and the eyes are further apart at the crown.