Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

Marmalade hoverfly male on chicory
Marmalade hoverfly female
The Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus, above, is one of the few with an English common name. A small orange-coloured, much-hovering fly, its markings are variable.
Marmalade hoverfly male
Marmalade hoverfly female
The male, above left with larger eyes, often (but not always) has a more uniform orange abdomen with less variation and slightly less black than the female, above right with smaller eyes.
Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly
Marmalade hoverfly
Marmalade hoverfly
Despite being a wasp mimic for protection and sometimes gathering in swarms, it is totally harmless.
Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly eating chicory pollen
Marmalade hoverfly on chicory
Marmalade hoverfly on chicory
Usually seen hovering over flowers, it is one of the few hoverflies that eats pollen as well as nectar. Larvae eat aphids.
Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly
Marmalade hoverfly
Marmalade hoverfly
It is one of the most common hoverflies in the UK and abroad.
Episyrphus balteatus hoverfly The pattern is on the top side only.
Marmalade hoverfly
Marmalade hoverfly on Poppy Remembrance.