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Hoverfly
Eristalis tenax
40.8247, -3.96164
Field Notes
Description:
It looks somewhat like a drone honey bee, and likely gains some degree of protection from this resemblance to a stinging insect. The adults are called drone flies because of this resemblance. Like other hover flies, they are common visitors to flowers, especially in late summer and autumn, and can be significant pollinators. Large (wingspan 15mm), stocky, bee mimic. Eyes are marbled in black. Males have hovering displays.
The larva of E. tenax is a rat-tailed maggot. It lives in drainage ditches, pools around manure piles, sewage, and similar places containing water badly polluted with organic matter.
Habitat:
Spotted at an alpine meadow above 1800 m. Parque Nacional de Sierra de Guadarrama
Notes:
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/800 sec.; f/14; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash fired
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