Epistrophe grossulariae

Habitat: Woodland edges, meadows

Size: Wing length 9-12mm

Species account: A noticeably bulky looking species, with neat parallel bands across the abdomen. These bands do not narrow at the margins, unlike the similar E.diaphana. Epistrophe grossulariae has clear grey stripes on the thorax, another trait shared with E.diaphana. These stripes, combined with the black antennae and black front of the frons help separate from the similar looking E.nitidicollis which has the latter two orange/yellow. E.grossulariae is widely distributed across the UK but is never numerous. Flies from May to October.