Smart fly

This nice fly with large wings and greyish dots is Ectophasia crassipennis (from Latin crassus- big and penna – wing). Here is a male with the dark band on the abdomen.

This species is present in Southern Europe and warmer parts of Central Europe.

It can mostly be encountered from early August through late September feeding on nectar of flowers (especially of Apiaceae and Asteraceae species).

The larvae are parasitic of Hemiptera (Pentatomidae, Acanthosomatidae, Coreidae and Lygaeidae species).