I find hoverflies on most hikes. And almost everywhere in the world.
They like landing on sweaty skin, sampling the salt. A few times I’ve been able to get one to land on the tip of my nose.
This makes for a scary image as they look like a small wasp. (Sadly, some run away or try to kill the innocent fly, not knowing it is harmless.)
Flies in the Diptera family Syrphidae are commonly known as hoverflies, flower flies, or Syrphid flies. …
Many Syrphids mimic bees or wasps in appearance. It is thought that this mimicry protects hover flies from falling prey to birds and other insectivores which avoid eating true wasps because of their sting. …
Hover flies get their name from their characteristic flight pattern of hovering nearly still, then darting a short distance very rapidly only to start hovering again, a pattern not seen in the wasps and bees they mimic.
This fantastic moment, captured by a young Australian photographer, won 3rd place in the Wikimedia Commons Picture of the Year 2006 competition.
Leave a comment if have any other favourite insects.
(We’re not going to get into the most hated insects.)
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