View allAll Photos Tagged hoverflies
This hoverfly is sometimes called 'The Footballer' due to its stripy thorax. There are in fact several species with similar stripes which are difficult to tell apart. Another name is 'The Sunfly' due to its preference for bright sunny days. In this species the black on the hind tibia is restricted to the distal third and the mid tibia is all yellow.
Hoverfly on my finger lured with a bit of sugar/honey syrup. Helophilus trivittatus ? Focus stacked using zerene
No. 66 of 115 Pictures in 2015: Pollination
It's been a while since I got out there with the camera, but the workload that kept me away is now over, so I took advantage of today's morning sunshine to chase this hoverfly around the garden. The dill is homegrown. I'm quite proud of this fact; I'm in the process of developing a regenerative life.
Hopefully I should be more flickr active again and be able to take the time to browse your efforts.
Hoverfly enjoying the rich pickings on our Lavender bush :)). We are gadding about again. Weather looks hot and muggy with the possibility of storms ... Have a terrific Tuesday all :)x
Hoverflies, sometimes called flower flies, or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
Episyrphus balteatus, sometimes called the marmalade hoverfly, is a relatively small hoverfly (9–12 mm) of the Syrphidae family, widespread throughout the Palaearctic region, which covers Europe, North Asia and North Africa. The upper side of the abdomen is patterned with orange and black bands. 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. Its color patterns may appear wasp-like to other animals, such as birds, protecting it from predation.
E. balteatus can be found throughout the year in various habitats, including urban gardens, visiting flowers for pollen and nectar. They often form dense migratory swarms, which may cause panic among people for their resemblance to wasps. It is among the very few species of flies capable of crushing pollen grains and feeding on them. The larva is terrestrial and feeds on aphids.
As in most other hoverflies, males can be easily identified by their holoptic eyes, i.e., left and right compound eyes touching at the top of their heads.
Well, I learned something new, today! Hoverflies are so named because (duh) they can hover! In the past, I only remember seeing them, sitting on blossoms. On July 12, 2015, however, at Sharon Audubon Center in Sharon, Connecticut, USA, I noticed one hovering above a fleabane plant. Delightful! Looked like a teeny tiny hummingbird moth!
The bugs are back - and I couldn't resist sharing a hi-res image of this hairy hoverfly from the weekend! :)
I hope everyone is keeping well! I'm afraid I've completely fallen off the social network radar, and just don't have the time at the moment to keep up with everyone.
I try to keep my website up to date nowadays, so if you have a spare five minutes, maybe you could take a look and let me know what you think!
Bye for now, happy shooting, and take care! :)
The Hoverfly is a harmless insect that mimics wasps and bees with its black and yellow stripes. It has one pair of clear wings, large dark eyes, and a short antenna. Hoverlfies are excellent fliers, often seen hovering in place before darting quickly to another flower. They feed on nectar and pollen, making them important pollinators.
Hoverflies, sometimes called flower flies or syrphid flies, make up the insect family Syrphidae. As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods. In some species, the larvae are saprotrophs, eating decaying plant and animal matter in the soil or in ponds and streams. In other species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
*Thanks to Orlee C. Ninon for sharing this fly with me.
his photostream: www.flickr.com/photos/ocninon/
best viewed LARGE:
Hoverfly Volucella zonaria on ox-eye daisy. Natural light. No idea what that finger is doing there :)
Hoverfly taking a rest on a Nasturtium petal in my garden. It spent some time getting pollen out of its eyes.
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Hoverflies are a colourful group of flies (Diptera) which make up the family Syrphidae. Hoverflies are given their name for their characteristic hovering behaviour, and are also referred to as flower flies as they are frequent flower visitors. Adult hoverflies feed mainly on pollen and nectar, making these insects very important pollinators.
There are 270 known species of hoverfly in Britain; these species vary greatly in size, shape and colour. Hoverflies are one of the most common insects to visit our gardens, so are very important pollinators in urban areas