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This is a male bog hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) sitting on a common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in the Mjällådalen nature reserve near Härnösand, Sweden.
This species has pretty impressive compound eyes with oh so many facets - which is matched nicely by the flower. This, as "millefolium" tanslates into "a thousand flowers.
Vägkant, Perstorps mossar, Aneby kn
A hoverfly of some kind, probably a Sericomyia silentis (Ljungtorvblomfluga in Swedish), in southern Stockholm a sunny Sunday in September 2024.
It was just beginning to rain when I was out near the Jällviksbron bridge over the Mjällån river when I spotted this male (Sericomyia silentis) busy cleaning his face and not caring that I moved in close.
This is a fairly large hoverfly species and their eyes always seem to turn out nicely in photos so I was happy I got the focus right on the compound eyes.
On the left here is a female yellow-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomya silentis) and on the right is (also a female) of one of the species in the Syrphus genus.
They are enjoying the spoils of a meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) in the Mjällådalen nature reserve.
The shot before this one was of another yellow-barred peat hoverfly, but a male, here; www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53681602847/ - look at how the eyes on this female are separated but on the shot of the male, they are touching. A very handy way to tell if a hoverfly is a boy or a girl.
You're looking into the many compound eyes of a male yellow-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis), also known as the bog hoverfly, on meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) in the Mjällådalen Nature Reserve, about 37 km (23 miles) from Härnösand, Sweden.
This is also a very good shot to see how the antennae of flies are constituted. The antennae are in my opinion the easiest way to tell a fly from a bee/wasp as the latter have long antennae. The name "hornet" actually stems from the antennae resembling horns.
Me and my son ate our lunch just two or three meters from this meadowsweet and we actually had a close (but more rare) relative of this one land on the table - this female white-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia lappona): www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53159110864/
Today's four shots are all from the trip to the Mjällådalen nature reserve I made together with my son today.
This one is from when we were almost finished and is a female yellow-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis), a pretty large species with a distinct look.
What troubles me is that I can't figure out what the purple flower it is sitting on is. Do tell if you think you know!
The bog hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis), like this male, is a fairly chonky species. This particular one from near Härnösand, Sweden, didn't let me get as close as I would have wished, but still there is some neat detail on those red compound eyes.
I wonder how the world looks from inside the massive compound eyes of flies like this male bog hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) which had gotten stuck indoors and was in somewhat need of a rescue.
Looking at it from this angle you can easily tell it is a male by the way the eyes meet. On female hoverflies, the in this case yellow part goes up in between the eyes and they don't touch.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/46269468584/
Part 2 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/51201909507/
I wonder how the world looks from inside the massive compound eyes of flies like this male bog hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis) which had gotten stuck indoors and was in somewhat need of a rescue.
Looking at it from this angle you can easily tell it is a male by the way the eyes meet. On female hoverflies, the in this case yellow part goes up in between the eyes and they don't touch.
On a side note, I think it perhaps is time for a manicure for me, right?
This is a fairly large hoverfly species, shot at 1.5:1 magnification.
Part 1 here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/46269468584/
The impressive compound eyes of a Sericomyia silentis hoverfly I found down by the lakeside.
A shot of it more from the side here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/44139129421/
The great masterwort (Astrantia major), here in it's normal, light pink form, is my favourite flower. Not only is it very photogenique and looks beautiful in photos, but it also is extremely popular with pollinating insects, something that makes 'em occupied with eating and not caring half as much about me and my camera.
The visitor in this shot is a male yellow-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis), a rather large and stocky species with beutiful compound eyes.
I don't remember the reason for why it has water droplets on its eyes, but it wasn't because of dew. Always looks nice though.
I wonder how the world looks from inside the massive compound eyes of flies like this Sericomyia silentis hoverfly which had gotten stuck indoors and was in somewhat need of a rescue.
Looking at it from this angle you can easily tell it is a male by the way the eyes meet. On female hoverflies, the in this case yellow part goes up in between the eyes and they don't touch.
On a side note, I think it perhaps is time for a manicure for me, right?
A male Sericomyia silentis hoverfly enjoying the ever tasty great masterwort (Astrantia major).
A very similar shot, but with a honey bee instead of the fly here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/46233795064/
This large hoverfly is a Sericomyia silentis which I found chilling right down by the lake.
Just a male Sericomyia silentis hoverfly upside down on an unknown yellow flower.
A female Sericomyia silentis hoverfly doing what hoverflies do on a great masterwort (Astrantia major).
A very similar shot of the male can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/36519106231/
A male Sericomyia silentis hoverfly doing what hoverflies do on a great masterwort (Astrantia major).
Spotted at Tailend Moss Nature Reserve between Livingston and Bathgate. Prefers acid wetlands. Sericomyia silentis.
Not a great picture but I only managed one shot of it.
