Common Globetail

The Common Globetail is a small hoverfly, usually measuring 9 to 11 millimetres long. It has a narrow abdomen with straight sides, marked by clear yellow and black bands. Male hoverflies have a club-shaped tip on their abdomen, which is why this species is called the Common Globetail. The face is yellow with a dark stripe down the middle, and the middle part of the body has a bronze-green shine with a light grey dusting. This hoverfly is found all over Britain and Ireland and is very common. It can be seen in gardens, meadows, hedgerows, and at the edges of woodlands from March to November. Adults are often seen hovering near low plants and visiting flowers. They especially like flowers such as umbellifers and composites. The larvae feed on aphids and develop among aphid colonies on various herb plants. This is one of the most commonly seen hoverflies in Britain. It is often the most common type of Sphaerophoria hoverfly in lowland areas. The male’s rounded abdomen tip makes it easy to tell apart from other similar banded hoverflies when seen in the field.