Episyrphus balteatus

Episyrphus balteatus
A female Episyrphus balteatus visiting a flower for pollen
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Syrphidae
Subfamily:	Syrphinae
Tribe:	Syrphini
Genus:	Episyrphus
Species:	E. balteatus
Binomial name
Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer, 1776)
Synonyms
E. balteata E. cannabinus (Scopoli, 1763) E. scitule (Harris, 1780) E. scitulus (Harris, 1780) Epistrophe balteata Musca balteatus De Geer, 1776 Musca cannabinus Scopoli, 1763 Musca scitule Harris, 1780 Musca scitulus Harris, 1780 Syrphus balteatus

Male marmalade fly. Notice the holoptic eyes

Episyrphus balteatus, sometimes called the marmalade hoverfly ^[1], is a relatively small hoverfly (9–12 mm) of the Syrphidae family, widespread throughout all continents. Like most other hoverflies it mimics a much more dangerous insect, the solitary wasp, though it is a quite harmless species. The upper side of the abdomen is patterned with orange and black bands. Two further identification characters are the presence of secondary black bands on the 3rd and 4th dorsal plates and of faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax.

E. balteatus can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen and nectar. They often form dense migratory swarms, which may cause panic among people for its resemblance to wasps. It is among the very few species of flies capable of crushing pollen grains and feeding on them. The larva is terrestrial and feeds on aphids.

As in most other hoverflies, males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes, i.e., left and right compound eyes touching at the top of the head.

References

1. ^ "Marmalade hoverfly - Episyrphus balteatus". Natural England. http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o380-marmaladehoverfly.php. Retrieved December 17, 2009. 

1. Stubbs, A.E., & Falk, S.J. (2002). British hoverflies. An illustrated identification guide, ed. 2, British Entomological and Natural History Society, Reading.
2. Verrall, G.H. (1901). British flies, vol. 8: Platypezidae, Pipunculidae and Syrphidae of Great Britain, reprint, 1969, E. W. Classey, Hampton.
3. Chiney, Michael (2007), Insects of Britain and Western Europe. Domino Guides, A&C Black, London