Natural disguise

As the weather begins to get warmer, the brightly coloured marmalade fly, Episyrphus balteatus, can be seen visiting spring flowers. Widespread across the British Isles, this common hoverfly has a double-barred abdominal pattern. These markings are intended to offer protection against predators such as birds, which think it is a wasp. It is, however, harmless. The marmalade fly feeds on nectar, particularly from flat-topped flowers, while its larvae feed on aphids.