DESCRIPTION: Wing length 9.5 - 12mm. A hoverfly with several similar species and so identification needs care. The thorax is black with two central grey stripes, the legs are all yellow, the scutellum has a black central half moon shape and the black front edge to tergite 2 is curved and strongly broadening. One of the main ID features to separate from close relatives is by examination of the antennae - here the total equal lengths of segments 1 and 2 should be greater than that of the whole of 3. BEHAVIOUR: The larvae are thought to feed on root aphids. DISTRIBUTION: A species restricted to southern Britain. HABITAT: More fond of woodland than other Chrysotoxum species but can be found in open grassy areas and along cliff edges. PERIOD: April to October.