Well at least I think it’s Simosyrphus grandicornis, but then it could be Ischiodon scutellaris.

Not being an entomologist the above are my best guesses but I can confidently say it’s a Common Hover Fly.

I noticed this little guy hovering motionless in mid air above one of my chilli plants and thought how cool a photo it would make. After getting my camera and finding it still there I tried many shots of ‘the hover’.

Ultimately I did not get a good ‘in-flight’ shot but after it settled I got this one.

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘Day 976, Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly’, 1/500s f/8 ISO800 100mm