| Gallery: Garden hoverflies |  |
The hoverflies (family Syrphidae) are among the most beautiful of the dipteran flies, being very often brightly coloured and sometimes quite large. Many species are well-known as wasp and bee mimics; their colouration, mimicking that of these other insects, is thought to give them some protection against predators wary of being stung.
Pictures
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The hoverfly Xylota segnis photographed on an oak leaf (Quercus sp.). Although difficult to see here, the long and predominately orange abdomen are good clues to identification of this species.
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Female Volucella zonaria. This large and spectacular hoverfly is a hornet mimic and a continental hoverfly now commonly seen in southern Britain (perhaps as a result of climate change).
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As well as being a large and distinctive hoverfly, Volucella pellucens also has a very interesting biology. Like other species of the genus Volucella, the eggs are laid in the nests of social bees and wasps (a very hazardous operation which often leads to the death of the female) where the larvae feed (unmolested) on the detritus of the colony.
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Syrphus ribesii is probably one of the most familiar garden hoverflies. It is well known for the males habit of 'singing' when at rest: vibrating its wings to produce a high-pitched whine. This one is resting on hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna).
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Syrphus ribesii on Californian poppy (Eschscholzia californica). The larvae of this species are one of the most important predators of aphids.
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Scaeva pyrastri is a large and distinctive hoverfly. Several smaller species resemble it, but the combination of size and very distinctively shaped markings on the abdomen make it relatively easy to identify.
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Rhingia campestris is one of my favourite garden hoverflies. I'm not sure why; but I just like it! Easily recognised from its elongated 'face' which forms a snout. Here it is on Verbena bonariensis.
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The only other hoverfly that Rhingia campestris can be confuse with is the similar (but much less common) R. rostrata. They can be separated by looking at the sides of their abdomens which in R. campestris are marked with black, but in R. rostrata are entirely orange.
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The hoverfly Myiatropa florea on guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
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The handsome hoverfly Myiatropa florea on ice plant (Sedum spectabile).
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The beautiful hoverfly Myiatropa florea on variagated soloman's seal.
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A bulb fly (Merodon equestris). Bulb flies are important economic pests of bulb crops like onions and daffodils: their larvae feed on the bulbs. A very variable species in terms of colouration with different forms mimicking different species of bumblebee.
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A bulb fly (Merodon equestris) on hardy geranium. The tawny colouration of this one probably mimics the common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum).
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Hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis. The widely separated eyes show that this is a female.
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Another distinctive species of hoverfly, the sun fly (Helophilus pendulus) is easily recognised. This one is on bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata).
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Sun fly (Helophilus pendulus). In my garden sun flies tend to favour the area around the pond. (Like Eristalis spp., the larvae of these hoverflies feed on detritus filtered from water.)
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Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) on corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum). If you look closely, you can just make out the apparent double vertical stripes on the surface of the eyes which indicate that this is E. tenax. (The stripes are made by areas of denser hairs.)
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Dronefly (Eristalis sp., perhaps Eristalis tenax). The widely separated eyes show that this is a female.
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Dronefly (Eristalis sp., probably Eristalis pertinax) on ivy. Droneflies are often mistaken for honey bees.
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Good head-on shot of a hovering dronefly (Eristalis sp.). Notice the eyes meet at the top of the head indicating a male.
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A beautifully coloured female Eristalis intricarius feeding on forget-me-not (Myosotis sp.).
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A female Eristalis intricarius feeding on cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis).
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The marmalade fly (Episyrphus balteatus) is one of the most common hoverflies to be seen in the garden. The distinctive double stripes on the abdomen make it almost unmistakable. Here it is on corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum).
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Marmalade fly (Episyrphus balteatus) on greater spearwort (Ranunculus lingula).
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Excellent close-up shot of the marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) on Corylus avellana 'Contorta'.
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The newly emerged male marmalade hoverfly (Ephisyrphus balteatus) shows clearly the uninflated wings. The photographer noted that the wings were fully inflated some 25 minutes later.
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Amazing shot of a marmalade fly (Episyrphus balteatus) in flight from below.
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Superb shot of a hovering marmalade fly (Ephisyrphus balteatus).
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