Syrphus ribesii
The genus Syrphus is comprised of, among others, three look-a-like species. Syrphus torvus has characteristic eyes: all hairy. The other two Syrphus species are hard to tell apart, especially the males. For females there is a clue though: if the thighs are blackish it is Syrphus vitripennis, the smallest of the three. If the thighs are yellow it is Syrphus ribesii, the biggest of the three. The picture below to the right is not completely convincing, for we would like to see more of the thigh, but it is very likely the thigh is completely yellow. The animal clearly is a female and so this should be Syrphus ribesii. This too is a very common species, but less inclined to migrating. Flies from April to September. The larvae of all species feed on aphids and are considered to be useful. The larvae of Syrphus ribesii are welcomed by farmers all around, for they especially feed on aphids found on berries. The scientific name even means something like berry hoverfly.
