Description

Over all length 6 - 8mm. A small grey fly with a white frons and white spots on the sides of its abdomen. Named a satellite fly because it tends to fly in circles around a prominent object.

Habitat

Woodland edge and hedgerows. Its larvae feed in the nests of bees and wasps.

Status and distribution

A mainly southerly distribution in Britain. Fairly frequent on the reserve.

Best time to see

May to July.