Episyrphus batteatus
Meliscaeva cinctella
Scaeva selenitica (probably)
Syrphus species
Eristalis horticola (as photographed by Crafty Green Boyfriend)
We also saw some interesting hoverflies in our recent trip to Calder Wood, in West Lothian, these have also been identified by the UK Hoverfly Group.
Hoverflies often mimic bees and wasps. There are over 200 species of hoverflies found in the UK.Some of the species are very distinctive when you 'get your eye in' others are very similar and tricky to identify. I think they're very beautiful insects though and I really enjoy finding out more about them.
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There are still a few places on my Tuesday evening adult education creative writing workshop at Tynecastle High, starting 22 September.Details here.
Eristalis pertinax (probably)
Epistrophe grossulariae
Episyrphus balteatus
Cheilosia illustrata
Hoverflies often mimic bees and wasps. There are over 200 species of hoverflies found in the UK.Some of the species are very distinctive when you 'get your eye in' others are very similar and tricky to identify. I think they're very beautiful insects though and I really enjoy finding out more about them.
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There are still a few places on my Tuesday evening adult education creative writing workshop at Tynecastle High, starting 22 September.Details here.
Wow I had no idea there were so many hoverflies...I have seen some here but I have not noticed any differences.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures of the insects! Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!
ReplyDeleteI think I've been seeing pertinax around a bit, recognise the big hourglass shape on the back!
ReplyDeleteHi Simon, yes they seem pretty distinctive, until you realise that there's another species almost identical except for the colour of the legs (hence the probably in my post)
ReplyDeleteThe Hoverflies are beautiful, thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI would have said they were bees, thanks for the enlightenment! I love watching bees and other insects around the blooms of thorns.
ReplyDeleteJe suis à la recherche des blogs aimant la poésie et nous faisant aimer la nature. Je trouve,ici, dans le tiens, tout cela. C'est un plaisir. Bel été.
ReplyDeleteRoger
Do they never run out of latin names? I just think of them all as hovering bees! Good work being even able to spell them.
ReplyDeletewow, amazing what the camera sees before we do!
ReplyDeleteBob- they are beautiful aren't they?
ReplyDeleteSage - they look superficially like bees, but once you get your eye in, it's particularly the way they fly
Le Vhemin - merci beaucoup et j'aime ton blog aussi.
Rabbits' Guy - I wonder that too, sometimes, but they also use Greek and made up words too. They're not related to bees, really, despite the similarity in looks....
Gabrielle - it is!