@hoverflyspotter
Naturalist, Environmental Biologist and Data Analyst specialising in hoverflies. Trustee of the British Naturalist Association & recipient of the Richard Fitter medal. My site https://hoverflyspotter.blogspot.com is about Hoverflies & Nature's Joy.
🧛 The Plant That Lives Like a Vampire 🧛
I found some Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) a parasitic plant that lives a secretive, almost vampire like life underground. quietly sucking nutrients from its host.
#Plants #HiddenWonders #Spring #Vampires #Ghosts #Birds
More information to be found 👇
Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)
Spring Spot-tail Hoverfly (Melangyna lasiophthalma)
Hairy-eyed Banded (Syrphus torvus)
🔥 Hoverfly Hotspot Found 🔥
1st Hoverflies of the year - Yippee 🥳
♀️ Common Drone Fly
♀️ Tapered Dronefly
♀️ Hairy-eyed Banded
♀️ Spring Spot-tail Hoverfly
Four lovely females, in a Cherry Plum tree
#Hoverflies #Syrphidae #Flies #Insects #Diptera #Entomology #Pollinators #Nature #Spring #NatureWalk
Just seen this film. It was Brilliant. Having not read the book I wasn’t sure what to expect but I loved it.
Spotted Thintail (Meliscaeva auricollis)
One from today that I managed to quieten for a photo
ℹ️The Spotted Thintail like the Marmalade hoverfly are affected by temperature 🌡️ during development, a term called temperature-dependent phenotypic plasticity 🧠. So, if it is cold the emerging adult will be much darker in both scutellum and the abdomen banding than a summer brood. 📌
#HoverflyFact
Spotted Thintail (Meliscaeva auricollis)
🎨 Spotted Thintail Art Work 🖌️
Drawing/painting of this migratory distinctive hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis.
Anyone spotted one this year yet?
#Hoverflies #Flies #Insects #Pollinator #Nature #Syrphidae #Diptera #Entomology #Art #Nature #ArtAppreciation #NatureIllustration #HiddenWonders
📄 A Festival of Amateur Natural History 🔍
Key insights from talks on Henry Seebohm, crayfish conservation, ancient wood pasture, golf course wildlife & more.
#NaturalHistory #Naturewriting #NatureGolf #Botanists #Crayfish #Sorby #Woodpasture #Habitats #GardenWildlife
@sorbynathissoc.bsky.social
thats a hoverfly maybe a melanstoma sp
daffodils
crocuses
Dandelion
patch of Lesser Celadine
🌼 A Search for Spring 🌱☀️
In my garden flowers included Lesser Celandine, Dandelions, Crocuses, Daffodils and almost there Pussy willow which will be buzzing with bees soon I hope.
The birds are singing and spring is almost here.....
#birds #dawnchorus #flowers #plants #trees
7 spot ladybirds on holly.
🌼 A Search for Spring 🌱☀️
On the Trans Pennine Trail Wednesday – saw 2 Brimstone & Peacock butterfly, a Queen Buff tailed bee and plenty of 7 spot ladybirds all firsts for the year but NO hoverflies yet 😢....
#Pollinators #Nature #Springvibes #Butterflies #beetles #ladybirds #Bees
That is just the best acceptance speak ever. Well done her
Apologies to all of Hannah's customers!
Something exciting is happening. Be a part of it ⤵️
Recently published Flies book
📚 A New Arrival 🔍
Look what’s just arrived through the post.
Looking forward to using it over the coming year.
Anybody else got a copy?
Not had a proper look through it yet but looks good.
#Hoverflies #Flies #Insects #Pollinators #Syrphidae #Diptera #Entomology #NaturalHistory #Books
The solitary bee season started in Tunbridge Wells today. Good numbers of Hairy-footed Flower Bee males in Calverley Grounds, along with several Yellow-legged Mining Bee males
🐛 Hoverfly Genera Meliscaeva 🐝
An acrostic postcard buzzing with fascinating facts!
Hope it brings you joy on this sunny day! 🌸
#Nature #Hoverflies #EcoEducation #Biodiversity #Flies #Insects #Pollinator #Diptera #Syrphidae #FunFacts #Entomology #Art #ArtAppreciation #NatureIllustration
I’ve been a supporter of @wwf.org.uk for over 40 years & I think it’s the first time I’ve seen flies in their magazine!
Hoverflies (& 100000s more spp) are not just excellent pollinators as adults, as the larvae are either recyclers of organic waste or predators of your garden pests 🤓🪰
Super video Thank you for sharing. I have been to Mersehead several times, love seeing the barnacle geese 🪿 in winter. But a couple of years ago whilst staying in one of the cottages in the summer Rowena took us out to count Natterjack toadlets, a special day especially being it was my birthday.
👍 Hoverfly Breaking News 🌎
The Green Forest Hoverfly (Caliprobola speciosa) referred to as the Jewel Wood fly in Europe, is increasing in numbers thanks to volunteers.
#Hoverflies #Flies #Insects #Syrphidae #Diptera #Entomology
#Conservation #Biodiversity #Woodland #Nature #Pollinator
📄 Hoverfly heads under the lens!🔍
Can you spot the difference between a hoverfly’s head and a bee’s? 👇 #Hoverflies #Pollinator #Biology #NatureFacts #WildlifeWonder #InsectWorld #NatureSecrets #Curious #Bee #Insects #Entomology #Diptera #Syrphidae.
More information inside the article below.
A few more Hoverflies at Lytchett Heath on Thursday including the 1st Eristalis Pertinax of the year
Super photo of a fascinating bug - will be looking out for one those any tips of the best place to see them. Noticed your picture is posted on Nature Spot website already.
Book cover of a proof read for Fateless by Julie Kagawa
📚 Fateless by Julie Kagawa 🏰
Epic fantasy Trilogy - Dune meets Assassin’s Creed. Reminded me of the 80s film Clash of the Titans, giant monsters & myth.
Can’t wait for book two!
Anyone else read it?
Did you enjoy it?
#booksky #books #BookTok #FantasyBooks #Epicfantasy #adventure #mythology
Hoverfly (Westoni stoeckeri) going for gold
💀❄️🛷 Hoverflies at the Winter Olympics 🥇🥇
Congratulations to #TeamGB at the #WinterOlympics with their historic 2 #Goldmedals yesterday.
🥇 #Skeleton - Matt Weston and Tabitha Stoecker.
🥇 #SnowboardCross – Charlotte Banks and Huw Nightingale.
The hoverfly Westoni stoeckeri going for gold. 🥇
🐝 Spotted Thintail Hoverfly 🐛
A hoverfly to look out for in February is the Spotted Thintail (Meliscaeva auricollis) .
If you have seen one let me know. I drew a blank today little too cold.
#Hoverflies #Flies #Insects #Pollinator #Nature #Syrphidae #Diptera #Entomology
A gilt-framed portrait of Charles Darwin, by John Collier.
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin, 217 today. 🎉 Very nice to see his portrait at @linneansociety.bsky.social this evening.
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekFforFramed
Multiscreen - TV, iPad Pro and Mini Ipad
📺 Mutliscreen 💻
Watching the Olympics on multiscreen!!!!
#Olympics #2026Olympics #Italy #Skiing #WinterOlympics
Congratulations look forward to meeting you in September
Delighted to learn I've just been made a Fellow of the British Naturalists' Association. Here in Herts we've a friendly knowledgeable local branch and I'm looking forward to meeting members from further afield at the National Encaenia in September.
bna-naturalists.org #naturewriting #naturalhistory
Ice dancing supremos Hoverino and Syrphina doing their Figure Skating
⛷️ Hoverflies at the #WinterOlympics 🏂
#FigureSkating: Their ability to rapidly pivot and change direction in mid-air mimics the rotational speed and precision required in spinning.
Ice dancing supremo's Hoverino and Syrphina
#Olympics #Hoverfly #2026Olympics #Skating #IceSkating #Syrphidae
Hedgehog moss with purpose!
