Hoverflies are the best known wasp and bee mimics, which do an impressive impersonation of their more dangerous distant cousins.
Many hoverflies have evolved these black and yellow ‘don’t mess with me’ markings, but are just bluffing – they are completely harmless.
As in most other hoverflies, males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes (eyes touching at the top of their heads).
Females usually have smaller eyes, which are further apart (dichoptic eyes).

Meliscaeva auricollis is a narrowly built species of rather variable appearance.
It prefers well-wooded places and is usually found around trees.

A male. Zanderij Crailo, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 24 June 2013