Hoverflies

UK HOVERFLIES - called FLOWER FLIES in the US
Hoverflies mimic the appearance of bees and wasps for protection against predators but they don't sting.
The adults are beneficial pollinators and some of the larvae eat garden/agricultural pests. Birds eat both adults and larvae.

Beefly

Beefly (Bombylius major)
– not a true Hoverfly

Belted Hoverfly Hornet Mimic

Hornet mimic/Belted Hover
Volucella zonaria

Volucella inanis hoverfly

Lesser Hornet –
Volucella inanis

Volucella bombylans hoverfly

bumblebee mimic
Volucella bombylans

Volucella pellucens hoverfly

Pellucid Hoverfly –
Volucella pellucens

Greater Bulb Fly

Greater Bulb Fly –
Merodon equestris

Cheilosia illustrata hoverfly

bumblebee mimic –
Cheilosia illustrata

Drone Fly

Drone Fly –
Eristalis sp.

Tenax Drone Fly

Drone Fly/honeybee mimic –
Eristalis tenax

Pertinax Drone Fly

Drone Fly –
Eristalis pertinax

Horticola Drone Fly

Honeybee mimic –
Eristalis horticola

Arbustorum Drone Fly

Honeybee mimic –
Eristalis arbustorum

Chrysotoxum bicinctum hoverfly

Two-banded Wasp Hoverfly –
Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Dasysyrphus tricinctus hoverfly

Yellow-girdled Dasy. –
Dasysyrphus tricinctus

Marmalade hoverfly male

Marmalade Hoverfly – m
Episyrphus balteatus

Marmalade hoverfly female

Marmalade Hoverfly – f
Episyrphus balteatus

Helophilus pendulus hoverfly footballer

Sun Fly/ Footballer –
Helophilus pendulus

Dead Head Hoverfly

Dead Head/ Batman –
Myathropa florea

Syrphus ribesii hoverfly

Common Banded –
Syrphus ribesii

Parasyrphus punctulatus hoverfly

Six-spotted Para. –
Parasyrphus punctulatus

Eupeodes luniger hoverfly female

Cmn Spotted Eup. –
Eupeodes luniger

Eupeodes corollae hoverfly female

Migrant Eup. – f
Eupeodes corollae

Eupeodes corollae hoverfly male

Migrant Eup. – m
Eupeodes corollae

Syrphus species hoverflies

wasp mimic –
Eupeodes latifasciatus

Epistrophe eligans hoverfly

wasp mimic –
Epistrophe eligans

Epistrophe diaphana hoverfly

wasp mimic –
Epistrophe diaphana

Scaeva pyrastri Pied hoverfly

Pied Hoverfly –
Scaeva pyrastri

hoverfly

wasp mimic –

Melanostoma scalare hoverfly female

Chequered Hoverfly – f
Melanostoma scalare

Melanostoma scalare hoverfly male

Chequered Hoverfly – m
Melanostoma scalare

Melanostoma mellinum hoverfly male

Short Melanostoma – m
Melanostoma mellinum

Melanostoma mellinum hoverfly female

Short Melanostoma – f
Melanostoma mellinum

Sphaerophoria scripta hoverfly

Long Hoverfly – m
Sphaerophoria scripta

hoverfly

Long Hoverfly – f
Sphaerophoria scripta

Thick-legged hoverfly

Thick-legged Hoverfly –
Syritta pipiens

Thick-legged hoverfly

Thick-legged Hoverfly – f
Syritta pipiens

Baccha elongata hoverfly

wasp mimic –
Baccha elongata

Platycheirus granditarsus hoverfly

wasp mimic –
Platycheirus granditarsus

Platycheirus albimanus hoverfly male

wasp mimic –
Platycheirus albimanus – m

Platycheirus albimanus hoverfly female?

White-footed –
Platycheirus albimanus – f

Platycheirus albimanus hoverfly?

wasp mimic –
Platycheirus sp.?

Platycheirus sp? - Applauding

applauding –
Platycheirus sp.?

hoverfly?

–

hoverfly on greater stitchwort

other hoverflies

LARVAE, EGGS AND PUPAE

Hoverfly larva

hoverfly larvae

Hoverfly larva

hoverfly larvae

Hoverfly larva

hoverfly larvae

Hoverfly pupa

hoverfly pupa

NON-UK HOVERFLIES

Foreign hoverflies

Non-UK European hoverflies
– wasp mimics

Villa hottentotta bee-fly

Non-UK European Bee-flies
– bee mimics

Bombomyia discoidea fem Kazakhstan

Non-UK Bee-flies
– bee mimics