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Ponds in the UK

Hover fly

alison_froglady

22 years ago

Thought you might like to see one of the many Hover-flies that were about this summer. We had loads and I did hear somewhere that it was because of the long hot summer last year,that so many of the larvae survived. Not much chance of the same next year then !!

Alison

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Comments (3)

mark22
22 years ago
We had thousands of these things on the pond surface, dead all around the house and pretty much swarming everywhere. It was quite unbelievable one day but guess they don't live long. Nice pic, didn't think of taking any myself, I was netting so many out of the pond and filter.

Daddy long legs seem to be the current swarm round here down south.
awblessmesturgeon
22 years ago
lots here too this year and btw alison thats quite a pic!!!!
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Thanks! You are right-- they are very beneficial, especially eating aphids. And I had no idea that there were so many species, such as ones that look like honey bees, wasps and many others. I'd assumed the bees I'd seen hovering around were just that - bees - but perhaps another species of syrphid. I had an infestation of thrips last summer - perhaps these will keep them at bay this year if they are the type to eat them, too.
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Hi all of mine are hand held no tripod the fly was shot with a P.S. camera just walk around where there is flowers with the camera and Iam sure you will find some kind of insect. you don't even have to be that close to it. just crop it and that will being it closer. Great shots Ron and Juanital keep them coming Anna
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Hover flies are a predator of oleander aphids. Last year I had a lot of aphids on the milkweeds in this bed when they were seedlings. I haven't seen any this year, but that could be due to a number of factors. Here's a pic from the same bed this morning:
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HissyFit
22 years ago
Superb photo! I don't think the "macro" mode on my own camera is good enough to focus THAT close! The hoverfly boom this summer was great for pond-watching - it's grimly entertaining to see one hover just a bit too close to one of the frogs... >:-D

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