Marmalade Fly

This species of hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus, is extremely common. It always features this basic pattern of stripes along its abdomen segments, but the actual colouring can be quite variable, depending on the temperature at which the larvae developed - interesting! This one is feasting on one of the flowers of a giant thistle that has started to take over one of my flower beds. I have had to admit within the last couple of days that our garden may now be too much of an insect garden, at the expense of some of the other purposes a garden can (should?) have. This thistle has rather let the side down and fueled the argument against me by being just too exhuberant. It will have to come out (or be seriously divided) in the autumn. Until then I can enjoy all the insect visitors.