Spilomyia diophthalma - a beautiful hoverfly

There are a fly with two wasps on the left and a Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata) on the back in this image. And then there is the biggest one on the right which resembles a wasp a lot but is in fact a hoverfly (Spilomyia diophthalma). I didn't find an english name to this one - sorry. This is the one and only individual I have ever seen. Apparently it's pretty rare in eastern Finland. Pity because I think it is a very fine insect.

comments (8)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

What a fantastic scene, like a big puzzle! Posted 9 years ago
1. Ari Parviainen
  
  King Cobra
  
  Thanks so much fchristant. There are often lots of wasps on this kind of plants (I think this is Cow Parsley) and sometimes there are nice surprises among them :). Posted 9 years ago

Jivko Nakev

Lion

Beautiful fly, amazing insect. And great capture! Here is another one from the same genus. Iv'e seen it only once and didn't realize it is a fly until I enlarged the photo in Lightroom.

Posted 9 years ago
1. Ari Parviainen
  
  King Cobra
  
  Same here, in the moment of shooting I thought I'm shooting wasps and at home I was so pleasantly surprised to see this on the screen :). I was rather lucky because I got only this one shot until they all vanished. Thanks for the nice comment Jivko! Posted 9 years ago

Mark Ridgway

Lion

Wonderful scene. Posted 9 years ago
1. Ari Parviainen
  
  King Cobra
  
  Thanks a lot Mark! Posted 9 years ago

Annette Flottwell

Lion

gorgeous shot, love it. Posted 9 years ago
1. Ari Parviainen
  
  King Cobra
  
  Thank you Annette. I like it too because this really is the only frame I got of this nice hoverfly. I was quite lucky that this wasn't one of those completely-out-focus shots :). Posted 9 years ago