Myathropa florea

Common Name: N/A

Myathropa florea is easily identified by the distinctive pattern of grey bars on the top of the thorax together with yellow body hairs. They are very variable in size and markings, which sometimes leads to assumptions that there are different species involved. Spring specimens can be duller-marked than summer versions, which tend to be brightly-marked and handsome specimens.

Widespread throughout wooded districts of the UK, the larvae occurring in wet accumulations of decaying matter. The adults are particularly fond of umbellifers, as are many other kinds of insect. Occurs on the wing from May through to October, numbers peaking in July and August.

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