# Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) > A common, harmless hoverfly with orange and black banding whose larvae eat aphids and adults pollinate flowers. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/marmalade-hoverfly/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Marmalade hoverflies do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. They may land on skin while visiting flowers but pose no threat. No specific first aid is required. **Pets:** Not harmful to pets. They are not a disease risk and will not attack animals. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Episyrphus balteatus - Order: Diptera (True flies) - Family: Syrphidae (Hoverflies) - Size: 6-12 mm body length - Colours: Orange, Black, Yellow, Brown - Habitat: Gardens, farmland, hedgerows, meadows, parks and urban green spaces; often found on flowering plants and aphid-infested vegetation. - Range: Widespread across Europe, North Africa and much of Asia; a strong migrant that moves north each spring within its range. - Active: Spring through autumn in temperate regions; diurnal (active in daylight), busiest on warm sunny days. - Lifespan: Adults typically live for a few weeks; many populations show seasonal migration or multiple generations per year depending on climate. - Effect on plants: Pollinator and pest controller - Pest: no ## Overview Episyrphus balteatus, the marmalade hoverfly, is one of the most widespread and familiar hoverflies across Europe, North Africa and Asia. Adults are frequent visitors to gardens, parks and farmland where they feed on nectar and pollen. Larvae are predatory on aphids and other soft-bodied pests, making this species beneficial to gardens and crops. It performs characteristic hovering and darting flights and is often seen resting on flowers or leaves. ## How to identify it Adults are small to medium-sized flies with a rounded abdomen marked by orange or yellowish-orange bands separated by dark bands; the color and pattern vary with season and locality. The thorax is mainly brown to black with paler hairs; the face is typically pale. Wings are clear with pale veins. Males have a narrower abdomen and may show slightly different banding than females. Size and banding can vary, so close observation of the band pattern, wing venation and behaviour helps confirm identification. - Orange abdomen with broad black bands and thinner secondary black bands (a 'double moustache' pattern) on the middle segments; band intensity varies with season. - Small size (6-12 mm) with rapid hovering flight and sudden darting movements. - Visit to flowers and presence near aphid colonies where larvae may be found. - Compare wing venation and facial markings with similar hoverflies when in doubt. ## Lookalikes - **Common banded hoverfly** (Syrphus ribesii): Slightly larger and more robust, with simple broad yellow bands on the abdomen and no thin secondary black bands; Syrphus species themselves can be hard to tell apart. - **Migrant hoverfly** (Eupeodes corollae): Eupeodes corollae has pale yellow, often comma-shaped abdominal markings and lacks the double black bands of the marmalade hoverfly. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Small, elongated eggs are laid near aphid colonies or on leaves where prey is abundant. - **Larva (maggot):** Aphid-eating maggotlike larvae are legless and greenish to brown; they actively hunt and consume large numbers of aphids over 1-3 weeks. - **Pupa:** The larva pupates inside a hardened, teardrop-shaped puparium (its own last larval skin) attached to leaves or stems or in leaf litter; this stage lasts about 1-2 weeks depending on temperature. - **Adult (hoverfly):** Adult flies emerge, feed on nectar and pollen, mate and disperse; multiple generations occur in warm seasons and some populations migrate. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Predatory on aphids, small soft-bodied insects and mites. - Adults eat: Nectar and pollen from a wide variety of flowering plants. - Predators of the young: Predators include predatory insects (e.g., beetles), parasitic wasps and birds that find larvae on plants. - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders and predatory insects such as robber flies. ## Effect on plants and gardens Adults visit a wide range of flowering plants for nectar and pollen and act as pollinators; larvae feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pests, reducing pest pressure on ornamentals and crops. ## Where and when to find it Adults: on flower heads of herbs, garden flowers and hedgerows. Larvae: on leaves and stems in aphid colonies. Pupae: attached to vegetation or leaf litter near host plants. - Best time: Best observed from spring to autumn on sunny warm days; midday when flowers are open is ideal. - Tips: Use a macro lens or close-focus camera to capture banding and facial details; watch flowers patiently for hovering visits and slow approach to photograph without startling them. ## Fun facts - Episyrphus balteatus is a frequent long-distance migrant; large swarms have been recorded moving north in spring. - Larvae can eat dozens of aphids each day, making them important natural pest controllers in gardens and farms. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are marmalade hoverflies dangerous? No. They do not bite or sting and are harmless to people and pets. ### Do marmalade hoverflies eat aphids? Yes. The larvae are voracious predators of aphids and help control aphid outbreaks. ### Why is a marmalade hoverfly in my house? Adults sometimes fly indoors through open windows while visiting flowers, houseplants or aphids near buildings, and may then gather at bright windows. ### How can I encourage marmalade hoverflies in my garden? Plant a variety of nectar- and pollen-rich flowers (umbellifers like dill, parsley, and plants such as lavender and buddleia), avoid broad-spectrum insecticides, and provide habitat with diverse vegetation. ### How do I get rid of marmalade hoverflies? They are beneficial, so removal is usually unnecessary; if indoors, gently catch and release them outside. To reduce indoor visits, close windows or use screens. ### Where does the marmalade hoverfly live? It is common in gardens, meadows, hedgerows and farmland across Europe and Asia, and is often found wherever flowering plants and aphids occur. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52482), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episyrphus_balteatus). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.