---

🪰 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:

Feature	S. ribesii	Similar Species
Hind femur	Completely yellow	Usually partly dark
Male eye hairs	Sparse	Denser in S. torvus
Larval host	Very broad aphid range	Slightly more selective

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

Role	Contribution
Pollinator	High value for wild plants & crops
Predator (larvae)	Major natural aphid control
Bioindicator	Healthy, flower-rich habitats

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

Trait	Detail
Size	9–12 mm
Generations	2–3 per year
Larval diet	Aphids
Adult habitat	Flower-rich environments
ID key	Entirely yellow hind femur
Status	Common & ecologically valuable

---

Views: 130