View allAll Photos Tagged hoverfly
Our tiny garden in Kincardine was host to these today in the brilliant sunshine and two of these were first records for the year as was this one, the Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus - one of the commonest hoverflies in the UK, often augmented by large numbers of continental migrants. This is a particularly dark specimen - they are normally a lot more orange
The Poppies have been covered in insects, mainly Hoverflies. Well worth the price of a packet of seed.
Several people mentioned yesterday that they liked my photo of two Long-legged Flies, but dislike flies in general. To which I'll add: different fly species have different behaviours. For example, I loathe house flies - those obnoxious nitwits - and have no love for horseflies, deer flies, blackflies, flesh flies, fruit flies, midges, mosquitoes, or dung flies.
Bee flies, however, are cute and fuzzy; long-legged flies are six-legged jewels; dance flies have a certain grace; and robber flies are fascinating the same way gangster movies appeal to the darker parts of our psyche. The best thing about all these species is they generally don't bother us humans. They don't bite. They go about their business and it has nothing to do with us.
Among this latter group are the hoverflies, also called flower flies. They are bee mimics, presumably an effective defence against some predators. Their larvae eat aphids, thrips, and other garden pests; adults live on nectar and pollen. Sometimes adults will hover close to a human. Not to worry - they are only trying to decide if you are a flower. Be flattered.
Many species are the size of a small bee; this one was much smaller. Perhaps the most beautiful hoverfly I've seen. Unlike yesterday's shot, I was able to align my camera's sensor parallel with the insect's body, thereby getting it all in focus despite the shallow depth of field.
Photographed in my backyard garden in Val Marie, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission © 2026 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
Taken just as the sun was coming over the tree line at GB Gruffy nature reserve on the Mendips in Somerset.
Quite a few of these hoverflies about attracted by the large patches of devils bit scabious, but didn't have long before they became active again in the morning sun.
Best viewed very large.
Visit Heath McDonald Wildlife Photography
You can see more of my images on my other flickr account Heath's moth page
Another shot of one of the many hoverflies in my PNW garden. I believe this is a male Syrphus torvus, but hoverfly ID is always a bit tricky for me! Focus stack.
I captured this hoverfly in flight near this flower. I find these flies to be interesting photo subjects and I'm glad that they only want nectar, not me! Anyway, I followed this fly for a bit as it would shy away with my movement but continued to fly to this flower after a moment or two. It is interesting to note how it holds it's legs while flying to create less drag.
I'm thinking this may be Syrphus ribesii. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know. Thanks!
Taken 5 August 2017 at Botanical Gardens, Anchorage, Alaska.
Not sure what this one is, can't find it yet in my book. Feeding on some of the wildflowers growing in my lawn and borders.
Myathropa florea is a very common European and North African species of hoverfly. Adults may be seen on flowers from May to September. It is of a similar size to the common drone fly, but Myathropa are generally more yellow, with two light bands to the thorax, interrupted with a black central smudge.
First hoverfly shot of the year and a common one on the field. Amazing how the spiders walk all over them and in this case leave threads on everything, including it's antenna!
Best viewed very large.
Visit Heath McDonald Wildlife Photography
You can see more of my images on my other flickr account Heath's moth page
Another of the many hoverflies visiting my garden. I'd love ID help, but they're so tricky to figure out from one photograph. Something in the Syrphidae family, that's all I've got! :)
Hoverfly
I had a lot of fun discovering the insect world thru the Tamron90mm f2.8 lens this past year. This lens in general is amazing- one minute I'm taking photos of my cat, the next I'm getting up close and personal with the insects!!
Thank you kindly for your views, comments, and/or faves on my photos :)
This hoverfly looks like a dangerous, stinging hornet but is quite harmless. This mimicry helps keep predators, such as birds away.I really like it's colour... shame it landed on the highest flower from me.
Hoverflies, also 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.
A hoverfly still looking at the other images I took to try and determine ID for this one! It never landed just kept doing what it does best and hovering! HWW
This is a species of Hoverfly with I had been hoping to photograph for some time now, for obvious reasons of course. The first time I found one on the Mendips was nearly 8 years ago and searched ever since without much luck.
Seems I should have been looking a little closer to home as we discovered quite a few of these little hoverflies, just a short walk from our house.
On an earlier visit when checking the Wasp Spiders, we spotted one only to then watch a wasp grab it and duly dispatch it. The weather had not been ideal for macro photography so I have waiting for an opportunity to photograph one.
I had started to think I may have missed the window but managed to find one last weekend albeit quite late in the session as the wind had started to pick up. In the end managed to get a small number of sharp images with this one being the best.
Best viewed very large.
Visit Heath McDonald Wildlife Photography
You can see more of my images on my other flickr account Heath's moth page
Lots of hover flies about at the moment but funny they is not much else in the garden.
Does a FLY count towards a fishing theme.
Our tiny garden in Kincardine was host to these today in the brilliant sunshine and two of these were first records for the year and this is one of them, the Footballer, Helophilus pendulus, one of the most distinctive hoverflies
Not many flowers have popped but the few that have are drawing in the regular visitors. This hoverfly takes advantage of this pretty yellow blossom.
Taken 22 May 2023 at the Alaska Botanical Gardens, Anchorage, Alaska.
The eastern band-winged hoverflies were out in force on the Gregg's mistflowers at the Wildflower center...