Anthomyia procellaris

Anthomyia procellaris is a small to medium-sized fly, usually 5 to 7 millimetres long. It has a grey middle body section with darker stripes running lengthwise. The tail end shows a pattern of grey and black bands, which helps to tell it apart from similar species. Male flies have reddish-brown eyes that meet at the top of the head, while females have eyes that are widely spaced. The wings are clear with pale veins. This fly is common across Britain and much of northern Europe. It prefers open areas such as gardens, hedgerows, edges of woods, and grasslands. Adult flies are often seen on flowers, especially those with umbrella-shaped clusters, where they feed on nectar and pollen during spring and summer. The larvae grow in rotting plant material and soil.