Black-banded Hoverfly

Appearance

This hoverfly has orange yellow body with narrow dark bands at the abdomen. The upper side of the thorax covered with black metallic shield and the rest is covered with orange-yellow hair. Between the dark purple eyes is a metallic blue part at the forehead. Its size is up to 35 mm, typically 10–20 mm.

The coloration of the abdomen is markedly temperature-dependent, with anterior and posterior bands thicker when pupae were reared at 15° instead than 25°. Conversely, colour of antennae, marking on the lunule, extent of microtrichia on the alula, sternal markings and «the 'theme' of abdominal patterns» are independent from temperature.

Behavior

"E. viridaureus" lives comfortably in disturbed or suburban environments. Females lay eggs often on plants such as "Ageratum houstonianum" and "Sonchus oleraceus".

As for other "Episyrphus" species, larvae are aphid eaters; species often predated are "Brachybaudus helichrysi", "Hypermyzus lactucae", "Toxoptera citricidus", "Aphis nerii" and "Aphis gossypii".