Sepedon sphegea (Fabricius,1775) common name “Marsh fly”.
Length 8mm to 11mm
Family: Sciomyzidae
Main flight period: March to October.
Widespread across the Palearctic region.
Habitat: Favouring pond margins, marshes and damp meadows.
Sepedon sphegea is a marsh fly, otherwise known as the snail-killing fly; as the fly’s larva, feeds on aquatic snails as well as other invertebrates. It has a liking for the yellow flowered plant “Iris pseudacorus”, which can be seen growing along slow flowing streams and pond edges.