Adults are usually found on the edges of woodland or scrub or along hedgerows where they visit a wide range of flowers, usually in small numbers.

It has been found in southern Britain, continental Europe and as far as the Altai Mountains and Mongolia.

C. cautum can be found in deciduous forests and scrub, unimproved and lightly grazed grassland, open areas in forest or scrub on well-drained sites.

[6] The hoverfly visits flowers such as white umbellifers; yellow composites, Allium ursinum, Caltha, Cornus, Crataegus, Euphorbia, Geranium, Plantago, Ranunculus, Rhamnus catharticus, Rubus and Sorbus aucuparia.

[7] The species' flight period is between May and July (April in southern Europe).