Best time to see: Mar to mid Nov
Key facts
One of the commonest hoverflies, emerging early in the year and common wherever there are suitable flowers
Habitat: woodland margins, urban wasteland and sometimes gardens
Recognition
A bee mimic, wings up to 13mm across, sometimes dark, sometimes with bright orange markings
Lifecycle
Adults lay their eggs around ponds and ditches, probably several broods a year
The young have telescopic breathing tubes that enable them to live submerged in water or wet mud
© Tony Gunton