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Hoverfly, Meliscaeva auricollis feeding on crocus pollen - ended up with a lot on it's feet which it promptly sucked off
I think this may be Syrphus ribesii. Vany anyone confirm or correct please? Seen at RHS Hyde Hall, Rettendon, Essex.
Photographed in our garden, this Hoverfly was giving a demonstration of how these little insects got their name. The glistening white particles on the Hoverfly is pollen from the poppy flowers.
I am not exactly sure of the species of Hoverfly, so if anyone can identify it, I would be grateful!
Rhingia campestris is a species of hoverfly, 7–11 millimetres (0.3–0.4 in) long, with a wingspan of 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in). It is common in many parts of Europe from March until November
Hoverfly hand jiving animation. See original size here www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/16623648414/sizes/o/ for animation
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!
Hoverflies are sometimes called flower flies or syrphid flies. 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.
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.
In some species, the larvae are insectivores and prey on aphids, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects.
Hoverflies are harmless to most other animals, despite their mimicry of more dangerous wasps and bees, which wards off predators. ~Wikipedia.
Allograpta obliqua (hoverfly) and Amphiachyris dracunculoides (broomweed.) This species of hoverfly is found in much of the United States. Broomweed is common in dry and overgrazed soils. Photo near Onion Creek, Austin.
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.