Alpine Hover Fly vs Colorful Ichneumon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Alpine Hover Fly | Colorful Ichneumon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sericomyia silentis | Ichneumon sarcitorius |
| Order | Diptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Syrphidae | Ichneumonidae |
| Size | 14-18 mm body length | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Underground |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Northern Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Alpine Hover Fly
A large hover fly with bold yellow-and-black banding mimicking a wasp. It visits alpine flowers for nectar in mountain meadows.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a snorkel-like siphon in waterlogged soil.
Colorful Ichneumon
A medium-sized ichneumon with a black body, yellow scutellum, and orange-tipped abdomen. It is one of the most commonly recorded ichneumons in Europe.
Did You Know?
Males are frequently seen on umbellifer flowers in late summer, making them one of the easiest ichneumons to observe.