Best time to see: May to Oct
Key facts
A small hoverfly, orange with a distinctive pattern of black and white bands, looking like a tiny wasp
Widespread and very common both in gardens and natural areas
Most years numbers are increased by swarms of immigrants from the continent
Recognition
Orange abdomen, tapering slightly, with a pattern of narrow black and white bands; transparent wings
Male hoverflies' eyes join on top of their head, whereas the females' eyes are separated
Up to 15mm long
Lifecycle
Males establish and defend territories and hover over them to attract females, who lay eggs on plants with aphid colonies
After hatching the larvae seek out and eat large numbers of aphids – up to 200 each – and sometimes their own kind as well
Sometimes there are two generations per year, one in spring from overwintering adults and another in summer
© Tony Gunton