Parhelophilus frutetorum / versicolor (Fabricius 1775)
Family: Syrphidae Tribe: Eristalini
Wing length: 7 to 9mm
Adults Season Late March till September.
Hard to distinguish between P. frutetorum and P. versicolor from the images below, also female and males both have the same space, between the eyes on the crown. This is not the case with most male species of hoverflies, as the male’s eyes are usually set, very close together on the crown. To be able to tell a male from a female P. frutetorum. a close inspection is required, the abdomen on the female is more tapered.
Commonly found in the south and up into the midlands of the UK, rarer the more north you go.
There are three Parhelophilus species in the UK, P. consimilis, being the rarer, of the three species.
All having the rat-tailed larvae, that live around the base of decaying plant material, especially Bulrushes, submerged in ponds and ditches.
Habitat: More commonly found close to still waters, from where the larvae emerge, but will also be seen along hedgerows, scrubland and woodlands. Umbellifer flowers are frequently visited, for pollen and nectar.