Description

Over all length 10mm. A nicely marked fly with a white face, red eyes and a black-banded abdomen.

Habitat

Woodland edge, hedgerows and meadows. The larvae mostly use Nymphalid caterpillars as hosts, the females laying eggs on the food-plant to be ingested by the caterpillar.

Status and distribution

Thinly but widely distributed over the southern half of Britain. Scarce in Nottinghamshire and recorded several times at Netherfield Lagoons. First recorded in Britain in 1998.

Best time to see

May to October.