This is the most commonly encountered large flower fly (family Syrphidae) in Maryland. Occurs in a wide variety of habitats and on a variety of herbaceous plants during flight season of April to November. Lays eggs in various environments where food sources are plentiful. Some lay their eggs into beetles; after hatching, the larvae then feed on the beetle's eggs (BugGuide).
Readily identified by the combination of the X-shaped black marking (flattened on the bottom) on the abdomen that is outlined in bright yellow and a scutum with gray and black crosswise stripes. Compare superficially similar Helophilus fasciatus, which has longitudinal dark and light stripes on the scutum.
There are 313 records in the project database.
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