SCIENTIFIC NAME: SYRPHUS RIBESII
VERNACULAR NAME: HOVERFLY

Fig 1
DESCRIPTION

A typical hoverfly with a yellow and black striped abdomen and bronze-green thorax. The main distinguishing features are the bare eyes which are totally void of any hairs or with only a few scattered here and there, plus the legs which are primarily orangey-yellow with the males hind femora at least half black and the females (See Fig 1) having no black on the femora at all.

BEHAVIOUR A busy feeding species particularly fond of Hogweed and other falt-topped flowers.
DISTRIBUTION Extremely common throughout.
HABITAT Woodland rides, parks and gardens.
PERIOD April to October.

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