Batman Hoverflies

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Scientific name:  Myathropa florea

Size:  Wingspan approximately 14mm

Distribution:  Found throughout the U.K.

Months seen:  May to October

Life span:  3 to 4 weeks

Habitat:  Woodlands and woodland edges

Food:  Adult flies feed on nectar and pollen, while the larvae feed on rotting organic material in stagnant water

Special features:  Batman Hoverflies can be identified by the distinctive pattern on the thorax which resembles the Batman logo.  They're also known as the Dead Head Hoverflies because the same pattern resembles a blackened skull.

The larvae of this species, known as rat-tailed maggots, develop in stagnant water and can sometimes be found in rotting tree stumps or tree trunks.  The "rat tail" is actually a thin tube which extends from the rear end of the larva (maggot) to the surface of the water enabling it to breathe.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Flies Section
• UK Safari Invertebrate Section
• Identify other wildlife
• What's Out Now?