About Baccha elongata (Fabricius, 1775)
Baccha elongata (Fabricius, 1775) reaches a body length of 7–11 millimetres (0.28–0.43 in), and is one of the smaller hoverfly species, with a wing length of around 4.5 to 8 mm. The long, very slender body of this hoverfly is unmistakable. It differs from other hoverflies by its elongated, thin abdomen that ends in a club. This club-shaped abdomen is black, with a yellow spot on the third and fourth abdominal segments. Its legs are brownish yellow, and its forehead has bright, dense hairs. Members of the eristaline genus Sphegina are also very slender and occur in similar habitats, but Sphegina flies have a distinctively enlarged hind femur, while the hind femur of Baccha elongata is slender. Like most hoverfly species, Baccha elongata can be sexed by the placement of the eyes: males have eyes that meet on the top of the head, while females have separated eyes. This species is very similar to Baccha obscuripennis Meigen, 1822. In terms of distribution and habitat, Baccha elongata is present across most of Europe and in North America. It is common and widely distributed throughout Britain and Ireland in any area with suitable habitat, though it is easily overlooked because of its unobtrusive nature. These hoverflies live in coniferous and deciduous forests, woodland, hedgerows, scrub, and gardens, and generally prefer shady areas close to the ground.
