Hoverfly (Rhingia campestris)

Continuing my interest in hoverflies I bring you Rhingia campestris. It is a common hoverfly and quite easy to identify because of its plump body which is orange and having a black stripe down it. It also has a longish ' snout' which you cannot really see in this photo.

This is a very common insect, flying from April to November and especially noticeable towards the end of the season as other species dwindle in numbers. You can find it along woodland rides and in hedgerows, its long snout making it particularly adapted to feeding on various flowers, here it is on a late thistle.

It is usually found near cows as its larvae breed in cow dung.

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