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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Flies (Diptera) (38 Galleries) >> Hover Flies (Family: Syrphidae) > Hover fly (Mallota posticata)
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01-JUL-2017 Christine Hanrahan

Hover fly (Mallota posticata)

The flies feet are stuck with sticky milkweed pollen pads. This is how milkweeds are pollinated. Insects land on the flowers, their feet, or sometimes their proboscis, sinks into the flowers, and when they pull free and land on other milkweeds, the pollen is transferred. Unfortunately for the insects, many can't pull free, and those that do have to fly around with these sticky things attached to their feet. This fly (a bumble bee mimic) is well and truly laden with the pollen pads.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/400s f/4.0 at 11.9mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Dennis Hoyne26-Aug-2017 02:33
I did think this was a bumblebee until I read the description. A nicely detailed close up. V
Don21-Aug-2017 19:32
Excellent photo illustrating a key ecological process.
Torben Jorgensen20-Aug-2017 22:39
Super shot. V
Stephanie20-Aug-2017 21:01
Fascinating narrative & image! V
laine20-Aug-2017 19:37
Trying hard to kick them off by the look of it :) Imagine the frustration LOL. V
Jim Coffman20-Aug-2017 15:17
An amazing macro image!!
Juliette20-Aug-2017 14:42
lovely yellow feet; cool capture V
Hank Vander Velde20-Aug-2017 12:49
Super image well explained and educational for sure Christine.
Pierre Martin20-Aug-2017 11:41
I learn something this morning, great catch!
Chris Morton20-Aug-2017 06:53
fascinating
Helen Betts20-Aug-2017 04:42
What an interesting narrative, and an excellent capture.v.
Nirvan Hope20-Aug-2017 04:05
Fantastic clarity and light on the poor fly. Such interesting information.
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