Melanostoma scalare

Common Name: N/A

Melanostoma scalare is quite a small and easily missed hoverfly, commonly found at flowers during the summer months. The males have longer, thinner bodies than the females, with lozenge-shaped yellow spots compared to the more triangular-like spots in females. Both sexes have largely yellow antennae.

Common throughout the UK, they are in flight April to November, peaking at the end of May and in August. M. scalare can be encountered in a wide variety of habitats but is more strongly associated with woodland, shrubs and lush tall herbage such as nettles.

The life cycle is poorly understood but larvae appear to be generalised predators of other small invertebrates in leaf litter and grass tussocks.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.