Hoverfly

It is a very common European species of hoverfly. Adults are 6 - 11 mm in body length. Males and females have different marking on the abdomen; males have square commas on tergites 3 and 4, whereas females have narrow commas. Larvae feed on aphids. This species has been used experimentally in glasshouses as a method of aphid control,and to control scale insects and aphids in fruit plantations. They were found to be partial to the fruit, eating more fruit than aphids.