[6] Two further identification characters are the presence of secondary black bands on the third and fourth dorsal plates and faint greyish longitudinal stripes on the thorax.

[7][8][9][10] Episyrphus balteatus can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen and nectar.

[citation needed] In controlled experiments, adults of E. balteatus tend to prefer smaller, yellow flowers, with high concentrations of nectar.

[17] Given the short lifespan of the insect, it has been suggested that its migration is unidirectional: a population moves south during a single season, and then slowly comes back north during summer across multiple generations.

[18] In May 2022 however, tens of thousands of dead E. balteatus were found stranded on a beach in southern France, probably caught by winds during flight, suggesting a massive spring migratory event.

[23] E. balteatus migrating north from continental Europe to southern Britain have been detected in May and June, leaving back south between August and September.