Size: Approximately 10-14mm long.

Habitat: Many places including deciduous woodland, gardens, parks and farmland.

Distribution: Europe, parts of Asia and north Africa. It has also been introduced (adventive) to North America.

UK Distribution: Widespread and common throughout Britain.

Rarity: Common.

Description: Overall yellow with black banding to the abdomen which usually joins a lateral line along its dorsal side. The thorax is hairy and yellow and features a black shape that resembles the 'Batman' symbol, hence its common name. Its femorae, metitarsi and tarsi are dark, with yellow tibiae.

Distinguishing Features: The Batman symbol on the thorax is unmistakeable.

My experiences: For me, the Batman hoverflies were much more well suited to sunny patches, a complete contradiction to its namesake. I also found the females quite territorial, buzzing around in my face as if to move me along.. 

Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Arthropoda
Clade - Pancrustacea
Class - Insecta
Order - Diptera
Family - Syrphidae
Genus - Myathropa
Species - Myathropa florea