Rhingia campestris. (Meigen, 1822)
Length: 7 to 11mm
Family: Syrphidae.
Adults: flight season Late March to early November.
Rhingia campestris is a common species found across the Palearctic and is found all over the United Kingdom. Only two species of Rhingia exist in the United Kingdom, the other being Rhingia rostrata, both having exceptionally long rostrums. (From Latin rostrum, meaning beak) R. rostrata is more confined to the southern half of England and most of Wales. To help to distinguish the two species apart, R. campestris has a slightly darker appearance, the side of the abdomen have a darkened edge as well as the legs being darker.
The long beak which encloses the proboscis enables these two species to feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, where other flying insects cannot reach. (Such as tubulous flower heads). Adult females feed on plants rich in pollen, which helps her to necessitate the added vitamins for her developing eggs.
The larvae hatch out and mature in cows’ dung, but because of the lack of cattle presence in many places where this hoverfly is found in large numbers, it also could thrive in other animal waste, as well as silage.
Habitat: Farmlands, hedgerows, woodland edges, meadows rich in flowers, parks and urban gardens.