🪰 Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii)

🔹 Taxonomy

• Order: Diptera
• Family: Syrphidae (Hoverflies)
• Subfamily: Syrphinae
• Genus: Syrphus
• Species: S. ribesii

🌍 Distribution

• Widely distributed throughout Europe
• Also found across Asia, North Africa, and North America
• Very common in northern and temperate climates

A familiar and abundant garden hoverfly.

🏞️ Habitat

Highly adaptable. Common in:

• Gardens and urban parks
• Forest edges, hedgerows, scrubland
• Meadows and flower‐rich grasslands
• Farmland and orchards

Thrives wherever flowers and aphid colonies are present.

🧬 Identification (Key Field Features)

Medium‐sized hoverfly: 9–12 mm length.

Notable traits:

• Thorax metallic dark with slight bronze‐green reflection
• Abdomen with bright yellow transverse bands
• Legs: yellow with entirely yellow hind femur → crucial ID feature
• Wing venation typical of syrphines (false vein, spurious vein)

🟡 Sexual dimorphism:

• Females: eyes clearly separated
• Males: eyes meet on top of the head

✅ Distinguishing From Lookalikes

Especially from Syrphus vitripennis and S. torvus:

Identification is easiest in hand or macro photos.

🌸 Adult Feeding

Feeds on nectar and pollen, particularly attracted to:

• Asteraceae (daisies, dandelions)
• Umbellifers (hogweed, cow parsley)
• Brambles, willows, wild roses

Important pollinator of both native and crop plants.

🐛 Larval Diet & Behavior

One of the most important aphid predators in gardens and agriculture.

• Larvae are blind, hunting by touch and chemical cues
• Feed on:
  • Aphids (primary)
  • Also small caterpillars and leafhoppers

One larva may consume hundreds of aphids before pupating.

🔄 Life Cycle

• 2–3 generations per year (may vary by latitude)
• Eggs laid singly near aphid colonies on plant leaves
• Larvae develop quickly in summer warmth
• Pupate on foliage or in leaf litter

Overwintering: generally as pupae

Adults appear early spring through late autumn.

🧠 Behavior

• Excellent hoverer; can remain suspended in air
• Batesian mimicry: yellow-and-black pattern deters predators
• Males often defend small flower territories

🌱 Ecological Importance

Frequently encouraged in sustainable farming and home gardens.

⚖️ Conservation Status

• Widespread, abundant, not threatened
• Benefited by:
  • Organic farming
  • Wildflower planting
  • Reduced pesticide use

Population declines can occur where insecticide use is heavy.

✅ Summary Table

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