Melanostoma mellinum is a very common species of hoverfly found in many parts of Britain, Europe including the Mediterranean basin and North Africa, the East Palearctic, and North America.

Very similar to Platycheirus and other Melanostoma species, but with close inspection of some finer details, it can be identified with certainty.

Adults can be found feeding on the pollen of grasses (Poaceae) and other wind-pollinated plants.

Little is known of their biology, but the larvae are suspected to be a general predator of small insects in leaf litter.

Flight times in Britain and Ireland are from April to October with peaks in late May - early June and from July to August.