Myathropa florea

It's been a day of sunshine and showers, with a definite autumnal feel. But suddenly I seem to have stepped out of the torpor of August and have managed to get lots of things organised, including purchasing a new vacuum cleaner (as yesterday's cleaning blitz proved to be too much for our elderly Dyson). I also arranged for a couple of prints (bought far too long ago) to be framed and for the estimators to come in and price up a new carpet for the downstairs bedroom. 

The range of garden insects is diminishing, but it was good to see this well-marked specimen of the very common hoverfly Myathropa florea feeding on the Sedum. This species frequents woodlands and gardens; the larvae are rat-tailed maggots which live in water-filled rot-holes at the base of trees. It seems a good candidate for the Tiny Tuesday challenge which is kindly being hosted by 60plus this week.