Date First Recorded in the Garden: 13.07.2021
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.
Xanthogramma pedissequum
A fantastic-looking hoverfly, and not at all rare. According to Britain’s Hoverflies: A Field Guide (*1), there is another species of Xanthogramma that recently arrived (2012) in the UK, which can be mistaken for X. pedissequum called X. stackelbergi.
Also rather interestingly the same source states that Xanthogramma larvae are believed to live in the nests of ants of the genus Lasius (this includes the Black Garden Ant we are all familiar with).
*1 Ball, S & Morris, R. (2015)Britain’s Hoverflies A field guide. Oxfordshire: Princeton University Press.
Wildlife Garden 