Hover Fly

There are around 5,000 species of Hover Fly. This one is Sceava pyrastriwhich is distinctive for it's three pairs of white comma markings on it's abdomen.

Like most Hover flies they are totally harmless and have evolved to look like bees or wasps only to avoid predation. As adults they all eat nectar and you've all seen them hovering and darting around your gardens. They love all the umbellifera plants. This one is on my Lovage. The larvae of this particular Hover Fly species eat only aphids so you can add them to your list of natural insecticides.

Having had a quiet day, the house has suddenly filled again. Time to go and join the gang.