I found this little fellow having a rest on the end of a crab cactus leaf. I am not sure what he is, presumably a bee of some sort, he's too pretty for a fly. I love the sparkle in his wings.
It's a syrphid--a fly from the family Syrphidae--known commonly as hover flies, because they have the miraculous ability to hang stationary in the air, hovering as long as they wish. They eat pollen and nectar, but their larvae are blind, predatory maggots that grope along until they encounter prey such as aphids, but the encounter is very brief. This is because the aphid quickly ceases to exit. Highly beneficial insect, if you consider benefit to be anything that forwards our human agendas.
I found this little fellow having a rest on the end of a crab cactus leaf. I am not sure what he is, presumably a bee of some sort, he's too pretty for a fly. I love the sparkle in his wings.
4 comments:
Yes indeed, its wings are lovely and colorful!
It's a syrphid--a fly from the family
Syrphidae--known commonly as hover flies, because they have the miraculous ability to hang stationary in the air, hovering as long as they wish. They eat pollen and nectar, but their larvae are blind, predatory maggots that grope along until they encounter prey such as aphids, but the encounter is very brief. This is because the aphid quickly ceases to exit. Highly beneficial insect, if you consider benefit to be anything that forwards our human agendas.
I just loved that picture! It reminds me how beautiful our nature is! Thanks!
I've seen these here, too...I like the info. provided by your commenter, above. Beneficial insects of any kind are always good to have around;-)
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