Hoverfly and Geranium

Hoverfly ~ Episyrphus balteatus

This is one of the most common hoverflies to be found in the UK and Europe and may well visit your garden as well as Newington Green. Although hoverflies mimic wasps and bees, they are unable to sting and are beneficial insects.

Adult hoverflies pollinate many different flowers and their larvae eat lots of aphids, so these are very useful insects to encourage into our gardens and are better for the environment than using insecticides. According to the Natural History Museum, one larva of Episyrphus balteatus can eat around 200 greenflies during its development!

This geranium, with its open flowerhead is a perfect example of the type of flower that insects such as hoverflies are able to feed from, as it makes its pollen and nectar so easy to access.

Thanks to Dr Martin C D Speight for identifying this hoverfly.

July 2011