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).

Myathropa florea is a large, very common European and North African species of hoverfly.
It is sometimes called Dead Head Fly because of the marking on its thorax which can resemble a human face or death mask.

1st photo: A male. In my yard, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 30 August 2023
3rd photo: A male. 's Graveland, The Netherlands, 11 August 2012
4th photo: A male. Landgoed Oostbroek, Utrecht, The Netherlands, 4 September 2018
5th photo: A female. Bargerveen Nature Reserve, Emmen, The Netherlands, 16 August 2023