This distinctive fly is 12-20mm in length with striking red eyes and very large feet. The thorax has black and grey stripes, and the abdomen has a chequered black and grey pattern that varies with the angle from which it is viewed.

The adults feed on nectar, rotting carrion and dung and are on the wing throughout the year, they often bask on sunny walls in winter. Females give birth to active grubs that feed in carrion and dung. 

This image was taken handheld in bright sunshine I deliberately used a large aperture (f6.3) to throw the background out of focus to concentrate on the fly. I deliberately focused on its eyes and because of the position of it on the flower head the wings and body of the fly gradually go out of focus adding more drama to the image.