Date First Recorded in the Garden: 14/04/2024
Family Syrphidae: Hoverflies
A very familiar and attractive family of flies belonging to the insect order Diptera (or True Flies). They have a single pair of wings, unlike most insect orders that have two pairs. Many species of hoverflies sport a yellow/black colour combination and are therefore often mistaken for bees or wasps, which many hoverflies attempt to mimic. However, they lack the ability to sting and are totally harmless.
With over 280 species recorded in the British Isles, most gardens will at some point in the year play host to more than one species. Many species are considered beneficial as their larvae feed throughout their development on aphids.
Interestingly, in most hoverfly species sex can be determined simply by looking at the hoverflies eyes. Usually if the eyes meet at the top of the head, then it’s a male; if separated then it’s a female. There area few species where this doesn’t hold true because they have males with eyes that are separated, however if they do meet you can be sure its a male.
Epistrophe eligans
A reasonably distinct species, although the male’s markings above are not as distinct as the females’, which we don’t currently have an image of. This species does indeed have a very brass-like coloration as described in the field guide (*1), which also describes the larvae as tree aphid predators. Particularly associated with sycamore and fruit trees, although another online source states blackthorn and hawthorn.
*1: Ball, S & Morris, R. (2015)Britain’s Hoverflies A field guide. Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press.
Wildlife Garden 