Share

Heineken Fly

Heineken Fly ©Walwyn

Heineken fly

A common hoverfly, the Heineken fly has a distinctively long snout that enables it to take nectar from deeper flowers, reaching the parts other hoverflies cannot reach! It frequents hedgerows, gardens and woods.

Scientific name

Rhingia campestris

When to see

March to November

Species information

Statistics

Length: 0.7-1.1cm
Common.

About

The Heineken fly is a common hoverfly found along hedgerows, in gardens and at woodland edges. Adults feed on the nectar of flowers like White Dead-nettle and Red Dead-nettle, and the larvae live and feed in animal dung.

How to identify

The Heineken fly has a rounded, dark orange body, dark brown thorax, and distinctive, long, orangey-brown snout.

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

The Heineken Fly has a long snout that enables it to reach the nectar in tubular flowers, which other flies cannot reach.