Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Black-headed Hover Fly

Melangyna viridiceps

Photo by Leuba Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-37.8952, 145.302

Field Notes

Description:

An attractive stout hover fly about 10 mm long with large eyes and shiny black thorax. 4 pairs of bright yellow markings seen on body segments. Wings were plain but tinted.

Habitat:

garden near reserve.

Notes:

This hoverfly appeared "slower" in flight when compared to other other narrow-bodied hoverflies.
Did not seem to mind my proximity !

Family Syrphidae

http://www.ces.csiro.au/aicn/system/c_1258.htm

Reference Links:

Image #1 of the bug Common Hover Fly (Melangyna viridiceps)

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
Leuba Ridgway
Thanks Martin. They probably are the same. Yours appear to have the same number of yellow patches and shiny thorax. I was amazed at how slowly it moved sideways through the air as if on some invisible silk..I've just got a specific name for these.
MartinL
Nice shot Leuba. Do you suppose these are the same? They were quite willing to let me get close. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/43021009

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Flies!

Tags

Photographed
PublishedOctober 9, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies