Welcome to the Hoverflies/Drone Flies Photo Gallery
- Pictures by David Adamson and David Kelly
Some hoverflies look like bees, while others are easily mistaken for wasps; however, there are two very significant differences. Hoverflies do not sting, and they have only two wings rather than four wings. This visual mimicry reduces the risk of hoverflies being eaten by those predators that are aware that bees and wasps can sting. (It is also reported that bees and wasps taste awful, but as we know tastes do vary!)
arbustorum
Eristalis arbustorum
nemorum
Eristalis nemorum
pertinax
Eristalis pertinax
tenax
Eristalis tenax
corollae
Eupodes corollae
pendulus
Helophilus pendulus
florea
Myathropa florea
albimanus
Platycheirus albimanus
campesteris
Rhingia campesteris
scripta
Sphaerophoria scripta
pipiens
Syritta pipiens
zonaria (f)
Volucella zonaria (female)
zonaria (m)
Volucella zonaria (male)
innanis
Volucella innanis
pellucens
Volucella pellucens
balteatus
Episyrphus balteatus
glaucia
Leucozonia glaucia
silentis
Sericomyia silentis
ribesii
Syrphus ribesii
pendulus
Helophilus pendulus
Hoverflies in Britain and Ireland
Worldwide there are some 6000 or so hoverfly species, colourful insects of which about 280 (less than 5% of the world's hoverfly species) have been recorded in Britain. Some are a mere 1cm in length, while a few grow as big as 2.5cm.
Hoverfly larve are equally harmless to humans. There are some that feed on aphids and are therefore warmly welcomed by gardeners; however, others are known to eat fungi, plant leaves or bulbs. The bee-mimic Eristalis tenax, known as the Common Dronefly, lays its eggs in stagnant water. Its larva has a long breathing tube that allows it to browse upon rotting vegetation on the bed of shallow water while breathing air at the surface. This larva is commonly referred to as the Rat-tailed Maggot.
Rat-tailed Maggot (Picture: anon., via U. Florida)
Hoverflies are most evident in parks and gardens at the adult stage which, depending on species, is between March and November. Most adult hoverflies feed on flowers, drinking nectar and eating pollen and/or honeydew, although there are also carnivorous hoverflies that feed on small dead insects.
We hope to extend the Hoverflies Gallery as time permits. In In the meantime, if you spot any errors please get in touch; we are always grateful for any help and advice.