The Marmalade Fly (Episyrphus balteatus) is a relatively small hoverfly (9 - 12 mm) of the Syrphidae family, widespread throughout the Palaearctic region, which covers Europe, North Asia and North Africa. Like most other hoverflies, it mimics a much more dangerous insect, the solitary wasp, though it is a quite harmless species. The upper side of the abdomen is patterned with orange and black bands. Two further identification characters are the presence of secondary black bands on the third and fourth dorsal plates & faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax. The Marmalade Fly can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen & nectar. They often form dense migratory swarms, which may cause panic among people for their resemblance to wasps. It is among the very few species of flies capable of crushing pollen grains & feeding on them. The larva is terrestrial & feeds on aphids. As in most other hoverflies, males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes, i.e., left & right compound eyes touching at the top of their heads.