This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.
This site is a busybee project and is supported by the generosity of viewers like you.
A male large spotty-eyed drone fly (or common lagoon fly) on a Praia de Faro rosemary bush. ID is confirmed by his joined eyes - they are separated on E. sepulchralis males - which is fortunate because the eye hairs quoted as the differentiating criterion can't be seen.
Just realised I posted the same species on the same bush last year (flic.kr/p/2pn4ehu). Surely not the same fly!
Common Lagoon/Drone Fly (Eristalinus aeneus)
One that I have not seen before.'
Have a Happy FriYay and a fabulicious weekend everyone.
Happy Fly Day Friday!
A male common lagoon fly (or large spotty-eyed drone fly) feeding on a rosemary bush with half a dozen other insect species on the Praia de Faro.
Unlike the other European Eristalinus species with spotty eyes (sepulchralis) his eyes are fused together providing a convenient ID characteristic.
Spain; Los Alcazares, Murcia 15/5/23.
Common Lagoon Fly. Lower part of eye not hairy.
Spain; Los Alcazares, Murcia 15/5/23.
Common Lagoon Fly. Lower part of eye not hairy.
Spain; Los Alcazares, Murcia 15/5/23.
Common Lagoon Fly. Lower part of eye not hairy.
The Large Spotty-eyed Dronefly (Eristalinus aeneus) is one of two UK hoverfly species with spotted eyes. About 12mm long with a shiny bronze-black body, and the characteristic spotty eyes with no hairs on the lower part of the eye. It is predominantly a coastal species of saltmarsh, shingle and rocky cliffs, but is occcasionally found well inland. The rat-tailed larvae have been found in rotting seaweed. Eristalinus aeneus is one of the few British hoverflies that seems to be able to overwinter as an adult. It is also known as the Common Lagoon Fly. Happy Fly Day Friday everyone!
A common lagoon fly (or large spotty-eyed dronefly) on the same bush on the Praia de Faro as the false mallow skipper butterfly posted recently. The distinguishing feature of this hoverfly from the similar small spotty-eyed dronefly (other than size) is that the spectacular spotted eyes only have hairs on the top half. Unusually (for me) the eye is sharp enough for this to be seen clearly. Must have been a well-lit bush :-)
Eristalinus aeneus ♂ (Diptera, Syrphidae)
Large Spotty-eyed Dronefly, Hoverfly
Glänzende Faulschlammschwebfliege
Brakvands-Dyndflue
Exposure time (= flash duration): 50 µs = 1/20.000 s
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If you like my pictures of insects in flight, I invite you to visit my special website on insect flight:
www.insektenflug.de
Wenn Ihnen meine Bilder fliegender Insekten gefallen, besuchen Sie bitte meine Homepage speziell zu diesem Thema:
www.insektenflug.de
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PLEASE, NO AWARDS, no Copy and Paste Comments and no group icons like "your wonderful photo was seen in group xyz". They will all be deleted as soon as I see them!.
BITTE KEINE AWARDS, kopierte Kommentare oder diese Gruppen-Icons wie "Ich habe Dein wunderbares Bild in Gruppe xyz gesehen". Die lösche ich sobald ich sie sehe!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here's a first for me. This is a male large spotty-eyed dronefly (Eristalinus aeneus), also known as the common lagoon fly.
It's a very fast flier and up north where I live it can only be found near the coasts. This particular one was resting on the side of the house in May when I was out testing new diffuser setups - just look at those eyes!