Hover flies are in the Family of insects known as Syrphidae with just two wings like all the true flies, most other flying insects have four. The adults feed mainly on nectar and pollen, as you can see this one is covered in pollen, and can be seen among the flower borders hovering near to the blossoms. This one was enjoying a sunbathe on a colourful garden Shrub in my garden, which I thought made a lovely backdrop despite the bright light. There are many species of hoverflies, and some have striking markings resembling wasps and bees, possibly to deter predators. The larvae feed on aphids and other plant-sucking insects such as thrips. The female lays her eggs singly near to the sucking pests and the larvae hatch a few days later and are fully developed after about three weeks. The pupal stage which follows lasts for a further two to three weeks depending on the external conditions. There can be several generations throughout the year, but the final generation overwinters as pupae mainly in the soil before emerging the following spring. There is some commercial use of hover flies as a biological control of aphids with the added bonus of aiding pollination as the adults feed.