Eristalis horticola (Hoverfly)

This large hoverfly is abundant in my garden (north west England) between April and October. This specimen was seen on 16.6.11. It is a particularly brightly coloured species of its genera and has a characteristic darkened area across the wing below the stigma.
Order Diptera
Family Syrphidae

For a natural history blog from the same area check out http://michaelfoleysnaturalhistorysite.blogspot.com/