View allAll Photos Tagged hoverfly
A hoverfly resting. I think it has an angry look, mind you I had just set the flash off in its face, so I'm not surprised!
© Mike Broome 2021
In my central town small garden. I think I have identified it correctly, even though this is not a typical habitat, more common on wood edges and hawthorn
Hoverfly Syritta pipiens in flight. A male inspecting a potential female below feeding on a potentilla flower
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 eat a wide range of foods.
Hoverfly Rhingia campestris on an Iris. Natural light. Taken at Highdown gdns Worthing
You can see how long their proboscis is in this shot
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.