View allAll Photos Tagged hoverflies
Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus clour matching a mollis azalea flower. Natural light. Focus stacked using zerene
A bit of an experimental capture for me and I feel a difficult one to do well. A hoverfly rests on the edge of the shade in my garden. Shots with varying light in the frame have been really difficult as I try to learn this art ... I hope you like it.
Taken three months ago today -- 25 September 2010 in Cloquet, MN.
Recommended in Lightbox.
Hoverfly, flower flies, or syrphid flies
insect family Syrphidae
Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow /ˈjæroʊ/ or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae
Hoverflies Helophilus pendulus . First I've seen this species this year and never seen a mating pair before
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.
Aphids alone cause tens of millions of dollars of damage to crops worldwide every year; because of this, aphid-eating hoverflies are being recognized as important natural enemies of pests, and potential agents for use in biological control. Some adult syrphid flies are important pollinators.
About 6,000 species in 200 genera have been described. Hoverflies are common throughout the world and can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals, despite their mimicry of more dangerous wasps and bees, which wards off predators.