Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 149

The Episyrphus balteatus, commonly known as the Marmalade Hoverfly, is a mimicry species that resembles a wasp in order to protect itself from predation. The color patterns on its abdomen can vary between individuals and are influenced by factors such as pupal period length and temperature. Females are usually darker than males. They are found in various habitats, including urban gardens, and feed on pollen and nectar. Episyrphus balteatus is also an important predator of aphids and can consume up to 400 aphids before pupating. The genome of this species was sequenced and published in 2023.