#syrphidfly

Hoverfly There are over 200 species of syrphid, or hover- or flower flies, in Alaska. This is one of them. This adult is feeding on some cow parsnip pollen, but will also drink nectar. As such, it is a pollinator. Its coloration mimics that of bees, giving it some protection from other predators. The larval maggots eat decaying material of all sorts, as well as aphids, depending on the species. This hoverfly was occupied for a while so I was able to take many shots with different fields of depth, flash, &c. #hoverfly #syrphid #syrphidae #syrphidfly #flowerfly #cunninghamparkkenai #cunninghampark #cityofkenai #kenaialaska #kenai #cowparsnips #sonydschx400v #SonyCameras (at Cunningham Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRQKdtyhtmu/?utm_medium=tumblr

Japanese anemones are an autumnal delight for pollinators and people. #fallflowers #anemone #syrphidfly #luminousflowers https://www.instagram.com/p/B3LiKMhAly5/?igshid=6iypclz99g42

The last of my series of fly photos for now, a tiny hoverfly of sorts that for two weeks now has made a living perched upon a potted western yarrow flower in my greenhouse. I’ve had a delightful time shooting flies over the past month. To think that while I have photographed bees, years have gone by of ignoring them and their contributions, which are in the most humble of terms, extraordinary. It is often easy to credit bees with success of a garden or ecosystem, but flies play a part that is at least of equal importance. I am now convinced we owe them some respect, and certainly our admiration. ~~~~~~~~~#flies #syrphidfly #hoverfly #ecosystem #pollinators #naturalpestcontrol #flowerfly #pollinatorgarden #natgeoyourshot https://www.instagram.com/p/BpxxI03hLYF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=f8es1vrkm7v9

Syrphid fly AKA hover fly AKA flower fly AKA a gardener’s BEST friend. Pollinators, yes, but despite its popularity no garden runs on pollination alone. Their youthful larval days are spent thrashing around the stems of aphid-infested plants, devouring the garden’s greatest enemy. This diminutive fellow is visiting a bloom of Catananche caerulea. Many thanks to @ribeswrench for working out a very difficult ID on this uncommon garden plant. ~~~~~~~#syrphidfly #hoverfly #pollinator #natgeoyourshot #catananchecaerulea #naturalpestcontrol https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcRJNShrgh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wsz6kqz8jfd4

A syrphid fly on one of the Rudbeckia subtomentosa enjoying brunch. #rudbeckia #nativeplants #rudbeckiasubtomentosa #syrphidae #syrphidfly #natives #prairieplants https://www.instagram.com/p/CiAn4tSO9Zs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This syrphid fly larva is eagerly hunting the oleander aphids on one of my milkweeds. Go get ‘em! #syrphidae #syrphidfly #beneficialbugs #pollinators #gardenpredators #coolbugs https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjvjeKqIfH/?utm_medium=tumblr