Common Flower Fly, Heesch, Netherlands

Not very happy with the angle, but it does show what an unusually broad-bodied species this is, for a hoverfly.

comments (7)

Christine Young

Lion

Too much nectar... Posted 3 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Or pregnant? May be a silly remark but this one is really wide bodied even for this species. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Ohh, good thinking. It could be a gravid female...Is it female? I can't tell if the eyes are touching or not. When I see gravid flies, usually you can see the eggs from the side profile, like this:
    https://thingsupclose.com/syrphidae-hoverflies/ Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Well, I just zoomed in and it does look like a lady based on the eyes. It would be cool to watch a fly lay eggs. I've seen mosquitoes do it and it's impressive. Posted 3 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        https://youtube.com/shorts/RZSxT6LbDPg?feature=share Posted 3 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        That's so cool, have never seen how a hoverfly does this! Posted 3 years ago
        
        Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        It looks as if she is painting. It makes me wonder how she knows when her eggs are ready, like -- does she feel contractions? Instinct is interesting. Posted 3 years ago

The Common Flower Fly

"Syrphus ribesii" is a very common European species of hoverfly. Its larvae feed on aphids. In common with many other species of hoverfly, males have the eyes meeting on the top of the head, whilst females have their eyes widely separated.

Info 18 0

Similar species: True Flies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant