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Hoverfly/syrphid or flower fly

Sphaeorophoria scripta

Photo by The MnMs
Published on Project Noah
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52.0024, 5.78614

Field Notes

Description:

This hoverfly had the abdomen a bit like a damselfly and the rear end looks like a little head.

Habitat:

Flowers in prairies and grasslands.

Reference Links:

Sphaerophoria scripta

Species ID Suggestions

Syrphid fly

Sphaerophoria sp.
Juan DiTrani
1

Comments (13)
The MnMs
Thanks, Joseph! I guess they do pollinate a bit just by being around flowers although they may not be the main contributors.
JosephBullock
Wikipedia covers the hoverfly's function from the larval stage where some eat ahpids and some of adult do pollinate, but mostly they eat the pollen. Your question prompted my search for what they actually do. They sure are curious insects watching carefully as I watch them. Great picture!
Juan DiTrani
well, they are not the best pollinators because they are not very hairy so the pollen grains don't attach so easy to the insect body, but they can pollinate flowers in some cases
The MnMs
Many thanks for the ID and the many nice comments! I have another question: can hoverflies be considered pollinators? they are in this season very common in the wild flowers from weeds here in this area of Europe..
Ashish
Jonthan and Juan you are perfect..!!
Ashish
Brilliant spotting..!!

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Photographed
PublishedJuly 5, 2011

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