Hover Fly Collection

Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) adult female, basking on rock, Powys, Wales, september

Plate 59: Seven Assorted Insects, c. 1575/1580. Creator: Joris Hoefnagel
Plate 59: Seven Assorted Insects, c. 1575/1580

Great pied hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) feeding from bramble flower, Wiltshire, England, UK, July. Bumblebee mimic species

Hover fly on yellow dandelion flower, Kentucky

Female European hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) pollinating Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) in flower, Belgium. August

Curtis British Entomology Plate 509
Diptera: Scaeva unicolor = Scaeva pyrastri (Concolourous Hover-fly) [Plant: Potentilla sterilis (Fragaria sterilis, Barren Strawberry)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 452
Diptera: Volucella inflata (Inflated Hover-fly) [Plant: Pentaglossis sempervirens (Anchusa sempervirens, Evergreen Alkanet)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 432
Diptera: Eristalis nubilipennis = Eristalis cryptarum (Beautiful Hover-Fly) [Plant: Oenanthe pimpinelloides (Parsley Water Dropwort)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 429
Diptera: Helophilus ruddii = Lejops vittatus (Yarmouth Hover-fly) [Plant: Silene nutans (Nottingham Catchfly)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 425
Diptera: Xylota bifasciata = Chalcosyrphus bifasciatus (Four-spotted Hover-fly) [Plant: Conopodium majus (Bunium flexuosum, Common Earth-nut)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 401
Diptera: Tropidia rufomaculata = Tropidia scita (British Tropidia Hover-fly) [Plant: Scandix pecten-veneris (Venus?s Combe)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 186
Diptera: Ceria conopsoides = Ceriana conopsoides (Long-horned Hover-Fly. Not British) [Plant: Briza media (Common Quaker-grass)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 182
Diptera: Rhingia campestris = Rhingia macrocephala (Chequered-bodied Hover-fly) [Plant: Silene dioica (Melandrium rubrum; Lychnis dioica var. diurna, Red Campion)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 98
Diptera: Merodon clavipes (Beautiful Merodon Hover-fly. Extinct in Britain) [Plant: Narcissus pseudonarcissus (Common Daffodil)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 70
Diptera: Microdon apiformis = Microdon mutabilis (Bee-like Hover-fly) [Plant: Lamium purpureum (Red Archangel)] Date: 1824-39

Curtis British Entomology Plate 34
Diptera: *Milesia speciosa (cf. Caliprobola speciosa. Beautiful Milesia Hover-fly) [Plant: Euphorbia amygdaloides (Wood Spurge)] Date: 1824-39

Hover Fly on Pink Flowering Sedum

Cosmos bipinnatus Sensation Picotee Pink Annual
Single, saucer-shaped flower of Cosmos bipinnatus Sensation Picotee with pinkish white petals irregularly edged in crimson surrounding yellow centre with hoverfly

Marmalade hoverflies (Episyrphus balteatus), two feeding on pollen of Dwarf formosa lily (Lilium formosanum var. pricei). Surrey, England, UK. July

Narcissus fly (Merodon equestris) male nectaring on Rock rose (Cistus x hybridus) in garden, Surrey, England, UK

Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) feeding on Golden apple (Lilium carniolicum) pollen, transfers pollen on body to other flowers. In high grassland, Mount Vournos, northern Greece

Hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) feeding on Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, UK, September

Two Hover Flies On A White Wildflower; Ontario, Canada

Toxomerus Hover Fly or Flower Fly, Toxomerus spp. Toxomerus Hover Fly or Flower Fly
Toxomerus Hover Fly or Flower Fly, Toxomerus spp

American Hover Fly, Metasyrphus americanus, on common danedlion, Taraxacum officinale, Stanley Park, British Columbia

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) adult, feeding on ivy flowers, Norfolk, England, September

Hoverfly (Xylota segnis) adult, resting on ivy leaf, Norfolk, England, September

Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) adult female, feeding on ivy flowers, Norfolk, England, September

Nine-spotted Moth (Amata phegea) and Common Banded Hoverfly (Syrphus ribesii) adult pairs, mating on Great Plantain (Plantago major), Cannobina Valley, Italian Alps, Piedmont, Northern Italy, July

Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) adult, feeding on Buddleia (Buddleja sp. ) flower in garden, Chipping, Lancashire, England
Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax) adult, feeding on Buddleia (Buddleja sp.) flower in garden, Chipping, Lancashire, England, August

Pellucid Hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) adult, resting on leaf, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, July

Shore Hoverfly (Eristalinus aeneus) adult, resting on wooden fence, West Canvey Marshes RSPB Reserve, Canvey Island, Thames Estuary, Essex, England, September

Hoverfly (Helophilus trivittatus) adult, resting on stem, Leicestershire, England, July

Drone fly (Eristalis nemorum) adult, resting on forget-me-not flowers covered in raindrops, River Whiteadder, Berwickshire, Scottish Borders, Scotland, September

Chequered Hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare) adult female, feeding on anemone flower in garden, Powys, Wales, September

Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) adult, basking on leaf, Dorset, England, September

Hoverfly feeding, SEM
Hoverfly feeding. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a hoverfly (Rhingia campestris) feeding on a bugle flower (Ajuga reptans)

Hoverfly C016 / 6099
Hoverfly (family Syrphida)

Hoverfly C016 / 6098
Hoverfly (family Syrphida)

Hoverfly feeding C016 / 4757
Hoverfly feeding. Close-up of a hoverfly (family Syrphidae) feeding on Teide giant bugloss (Echium wildpretii) flowers. Photographed in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Hoverfly feeding C016 / 4739
Hoverfly feeding. Close-up of a hoverfly (family Syrphidae) feeding on a bugloss (Echium auberianum) flower. Photographed in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Hoverfly feeding on flowers C016 / 4724
Hoverfly feeding on flowers. Close-up of a hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) feeding on common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowers. Photographed in the UK

Hoverfly feeding on a flower C016 / 4706
Hoverfly feeding on a flower. Close-up of a hoverfly (Eristalis sp.) feeding on the blossom of a blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) tree. Photographed in the UK

Eristalis tenax, drone-fly larvae
Eristalis tenax is one of quite a large group of closely related hover-flies which have rat-tailed maggots, i.e. larvae with an elongated breathing tube at the end of their bodies. E

Leucozona lucorum L. hoverfly
Adult female Hover fly (Diptera: family Syrphidae) feeding on clover flowers. Hoverflies resemble bees and wasps. Most adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen

Hoverfly in amber
Hoverfly preserved in Baltic amber. This specimen dates from the Upper Eocene

Syrphus ribesii, hoverfly
This species of hoverfly is often seen feeding on nectar within the Museums Wildlife Garden. Photograph taken by Derek Adams in April 2003

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"Discover the Fascinating World of Hover Flies: From Wiltshire to Kentucky, these Insects are Nature's Pollinators. " Hover flies, also known as flower flies or syrphid flies, are a diverse group of insects that play a crucial role in pollination. With their striking colors and unique hovering flight patterns, they capture our attention wherever they go. In Wiltshire, England, the Great pied hoverfly (Volucella pellucens) is captured on camera as it delicately feeds from a bramble flower. This beautiful sight showcases the intricate relationship between hover flies and flowering plants. Across the Atlantic in Kentucky, another hover fly perches gracefully on a vibrant yellow dandelion flower. Its presence reminds us of how these tiny creatures contribute to the beauty and biodiversity of our surroundings. The female European hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) takes center stage as it diligently pollinates Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare). These industrious insects ensure that flowers reproduce by transferring pollen from one plant to another. As we delve deeper into the world of hover flies through Curtis British Entomology Plates 509, 452, 432, 429, 425, 401 - we witness an array of species with captivating features. From colorful markings to intricate wing patterns; each plate offers a glimpse into their incredible diversity. Plate 186 captures our attention with its depiction of a hover fly engaged in its natural habitat. The detailed illustration invites us to appreciate these often overlooked creatures' importance within ecosystems worldwide. Moving forward to Plate 182 and Plate 98 reveals more enchanting scenes featuring hover flies interacting with various plant species. Their delicate presence serves as a reminder that even small organisms can have significant impacts on our environment's health and balance. Through these captivating images and illustrations found in Curtis British Entomology Plates series; we gain insight into just how essential hover flies are to our world.