Chrysotoxum cautum

Habitat: Grassland near wood or scrubby areas

Size: Wing length 10-13mm

Species account: Despite being a large and boldly coloured hoverfly, care is required to separate Chrysotoxum cautum from other similar species. The abdominal pattern has very straight black bars which are interrupted well short of the edge. In both sexes the first antennal segment is shorter than the second and females have long dense hairs on the thoracic dorsum (as long as width of third antennal segment). Males are remarkably well endowed, with the genitalia reaching forward to a point equivalent to halfway down tergite 4.