Phaonia pallida

Phaonia pallida is a medium-sized fly, usually 5 to 7 millimetres long. It has a pale grey body, which makes it different from other darker Phaonia flies. Its wings are clear with light-coloured veins, and males have a grey dusting on their bodies. This fly prefers damp and shaded places. It is often found near the edges of woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens with plenty of plants. Phaonia pallida is common across Britain and much of Europe. It is active from spring to autumn. Adults are usually seen resting on low plants and flowers. The larvae grow in rotting organic material and animal droppings. The pale colour, where it lives, and the time of year it appears help to tell this species apart from others in the same group.