Marmalade Hoverfly

Gardens, meadows, woodlands, agricultural fields, and urban green spaces

Adults feed on nectar and pollen; larvae are predatory and eat aphids, scale insects, and thrips.

Known for precise hovering in mid-air near flowers; exhibits Batesian mimicry by adopting yellow-and-black warning colors similar to wasps to deter predators; highly migratory across Europe and Asia.

Extremely beneficial insect; adults act as significant pollinators, while larvae serve as effective natural biological pest controls for crop-damaging aphids. Completely harmless to humans, as they cannot sting or bite.