Łódź, Łagiewniki Forest

The hoverfly is Eristalis tenax, male. It is native to north-eastern and north-central North America, but is widely spread in Poland and strongly invasive! Bees feeding plant. Ornamental plant. Edible plant - young leaves and flowering stems - cooked. Herbal plant - roots are applied as a poultice to burns; dried for infusion used as antiseptic, the plant has similar medicinal uses to Solidago virgaurea. Usable plant - mustard, orange and brown dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.