Banded General
TQ4792 23/07/2019 ©Raymond Small
Stratiomys potamida
This is slow and cumbersome Soldier Fly that visits umbellifers and bramble in wet areas from June to August. It looks like a very flat wasp with bright yellow markings. It carnivorous larvae are found in the lake, ponds and ditches. Essex Field Club recorder Del Smith said: "Quite a few Essex records, but never common. One record for Hainault in 1983. A striking fly, I spent a huge amount of time recording diptera in Dagnam Park in 76-85 and never found it. It's a bit hard to miss so I doubt it was present then. Going by the records I have it doesn't seem to be increasing either."
© hainaultforest.net. All rights reserved.