on a nectar high by Richardphotos

Photography • Macro • posted on Jun 07, 2007

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Description

thanks for viewing and comments. I took these drone flies the same time as the dragonfly Hover-flies are some of the most attractive and noticeable flies around, they are also as their name implies incredibly good at flying and hovering. Many Hover-flies are clever mimics of Bees and Wasps (Hymenoptera) though they themselves cannot bite or sting. Volucella bombylans which exists in two forms, a yellow tailed form which looks like Bombus terrestris and a red tailed form which looks like Bombus lapidarius is a fine example. As larva, Hover-flies feed on a great variety of substances, from cow dung (Rhingia campestris), muddy puddles and ditches ( Eristalis tenax the Drone Fly), to living plant material (Merodon equestris the Bulb Fly) and living aphids (Episyrphus balteatus the Marmalade Hover-fly and Syrphus ribesii a common black and yellow wasp mimic). In fact so many Hover-fly larva eat aphids that, like the lady-beetles they are well known as a gardeners friend. Not only are Hover-flies useful because they eat aphids but they are also the second most important group of insect pollinators, after the Bees and Wasps. http://www.earthlife.net/insects/cyclorrhapha.html

Comments (90)

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jocko500

6:19PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

super looking all of them. Very sharp and all.

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three_grrr

6:49PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

I've seen these guys .. and knew they were some form of bee mimic, but had NO idea how wonderful these creatures are!! Thank you for the information!! And the photos are fabulous!!!

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Steff_7

7:13PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

Excellent images and loved the educational content. Always something new to learn everyday. Thank you.

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Blush

7:18PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

Wow This is awesome... I like the third one best:) But they all are great... Hugs Susan~

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goodoleboy

7:27PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

Nos.1 & 3 are my favorites among these terrific closeups of the hover-flies at work. Fine POV, detail, and reflective lighting off the wings.

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npauling

10:01PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

Super macros and a lovely collage.

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alhak

10:11PM | Thu, 07 June 2007

wonderful shots

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frogster

12:30AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Great close up shots

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erlandpil

12:56AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Good work and image erland

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Gor111

2:00AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

A beautiful macro series about this bee! What an excellent looking composition!!!

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sharky_

2:53AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Very impressive. Excellent. Aloha

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shadownet

3:06AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Wow very impressive! I think the lighting in particular is prefect!

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mansco

4:31AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Splendid work as always ;O)

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jif3d

5:13AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

So these critters are hover flies ? they do a great job of looking like bee's ! Neat collage of this busy little fellow Richard. ~Cheers~ :o)

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Sekadhar

5:19AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Impressive shot!*****!

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sirvictor

7:33AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

great pictures

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irakika

8:38AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Excellent and very nice photo!

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spm91g

8:44AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Fantastic images!! Very well done!!

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kenmo

11:56AM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Fantastic macro and collage....

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GOLDILOCKSUK

12:50PM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Nature at it's best Richard these are gorgeous :) Cathy xoxoxo

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magnus073

11:14PM | Fri, 08 June 2007

Great photos, and especially enjoyed the detail you provide to go along with the images.

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fredster66

8:07AM | Sat, 09 June 2007

Amazing group of images!

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cameraobscura2

10:09AM | Sat, 09 June 2007

Let us hope that we are not going to loose this specific speicies to an unknown as we here in the US are loosing over 45% of our bees and we have no answer, no clues and so cannot help reverse the extinction. Thank you for sharing. egmont

da_mar

5:39PM | Sat, 09 June 2007

Awesome captures and beautifully presented!

thevolunteer

7:39PM | Sat, 09 June 2007

I agree, impressive shots. They look so real, I am afraid I'll get stung. Great work. Aloha and thanks for commenting on my works.

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maggiemai

8:53PM | Sat, 09 June 2007

Outstanding macro photography! I love the one just covered in pollen. They seem to have hit the jackpot and so did you with these wonderful captures. Excellent as always Richard.. :-)

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