Stats

Lifespan: A few weeks
Size: Small
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate grassland
Range: Palaearctic
Movement: Flight
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Warning Colors
Status: Common

About

Europe's most abundant hoverfly, instantly recognised by its irregular double orange-and-black banding — no two abdominal segments have bands of exactly the same width. Despite its convincing wasp disguise, it is entirely harmless; its larvae are voracious aphid predators, making it one of the garden's most useful allies.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Syrphidae
Genus: Episyrphus
Species: Episyrphus balteatus