I’ve never seen an adult Meligramma trianguliferum hoverfly due, no doubt, to the fact that this species is rare in Wales, with only four previous sightings logged. However, I am now very hopeful I will see one this summer, as I found six larvae on one particularly heavily aphid-infested shrub in a local park, and there were probably more larvae that I didn’t spot lurking under the leaves.

I didn’t recognise the species when I saw it, of course, but, fortunately for me, the national hoverfly larvae recorder Geoff is on social media and is very willing to identify sighting from photographs where possible. There were so many aphids on this shrub that it was sticky with honeydew and even the larvae were covered in it and looking quite manky so I’m glad Geoff was still able to recognise them. To see the adults, check out the photos on the Naturespot website and, fingers crossed, I’ll find some and share photos of those sometime in the summer.