View allAll Photos Tagged hoverfly
This hoverfly shot was straight out of the camera, well, as it was shot in RAW I processed it to a jpeg in DPP (the canon freebie software).
Next time you're out in the countryside in the summer, look carefully for people who suddenly start jumping around waving their hands in the air and runnimng around in a tight circle, we've all seen it. This behaviour quickly spreads to any people around them, until there is a group of them doing some wild techno dance. Most of the time they're doing this because they think they've spotted a wasp (yellowjacket). Most of the time what they've actually seen is a hoverfly.
Hoverflies scare a lot of people because they look like wasps and bees, that's the point of their mimicry. Even for small animals and other arthropods, if you look like you can handle yourself in a fight, you get respect. It's only since I've been taking pictures of these insects that I've been able to overcome this natural fear and not wave my arms around like a demented air traffic controller when one of these comes within range. I've even rescued a few hoverflies and parasitic wasps from watery graves when I've seen them. Now when I see a stripey insect flying towards me, I wait a bit to identify it before acting like kid at their first all-nighter. This makes me look way cooler, but as my eyesight is failing, a whole lot more susceptible to being stung. Don't worry I have the solution, any time you see anything that looks remotely like a wasp or bee, jump around like a madman waving your hand in the air, better safe than sorry!
From 'Wikipedia': 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. 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 every continent except Antarctica. Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals despite their mimicry of the black and yellow stripes of wasps, which serves to ward off predators.
This is posted 'As Taken' with no alterations.
This drowsy hoverfly allowed me to take his portrait. I really like the colors in his compound eyes, HFDF Everyone!
Best viewed with L key and zoomed in. The thousands of eyes cause moire patterns at the smaller size.
Hoverfly on camelia leaf feeding on sugar/honey syrup. Focus stacked using zerene. Xanthandrus comtus
The same hoverfly from a few shots ago, with its furthest back set of legs still folded up underneath!
These guys are soooo tiny but very pretty, I love their deep blacks, golds and oranges!
HFDF
July 2016
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This image was taken in the early morning at East Harptree Woods in Somerset on the 22nd July 2012.
Loads of these little Hoverflies about, but as soon as you get close they fly away, usually very slowly!!
Finally managed to get one that would stay still, in fact this one seemed quite content to dab away on the stamens so I had to wait a while before it stayed still long enough to get a shot.
Some of these Hoverflies look quite dull until you get a close up view of them.
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
At 1/180 second, the hoverfly's wings are a blur. Some hoverflies look like bees or wasps, and the larvae (maggots) of some are aphidophagous
Hoverfly Volucella zonaria on hebe. The most common view you get of these beautiful large hoverflies
Hoverfly Syritta pipiens in flight. A male inspecting a potential female below feeding on a potentilla flower