COMMON HOVER-FLY

The Latin name for this fly is Syrphus Ribesii.

There are over 230 species of hover-fly in Britain. They are given their name because they have a habit of hovering while awaiting the females. Some species make a humming or droning sound while they are hovering. Most adults visit flowers for nectar or pollen, and are sometimes called Flower-flies.

This species of fly is relatively large, with a body length of 1-1.5cm. Its thorax is black with brown hair, and the abdomen is strongly marked with yellow stripes on black; this means it can easily be mistaken for a wasp at a glance. 

The larvae are rather like small slugs, which when hatched immediately attack aphides such as greenfly, eating up to fifty a day. The larvae are so transparent that their digestive tubes can be seen.