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larose forest photos | all galleries >> INSECTS (INSECTA) (28 Galleries) >> Flies (Diptera) (38 Galleries) >> Hover Flies (Family: Syrphidae) >> Hover Flies (Genus: Spilomyia) > Hover fly (spilomyia longicornis)
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26-SEP-2018 Christine Hanrahan

Hover fly (spilomyia longicornis)

Larose Forest

Best viewed in Original.

You'd be forgiven for thinking this is a wasp, but it is not. It is a case of remarkable mimicry in the insect world. This is in fact, a FLY! Mimicing a wasp, a yellowjacket, must provide it with some protection from would-be predators. It is nectaring on goldenrod.

If you look closely, you can see it does not have the 'wasp waist' so many wasps have, and its antennae are much shorter than those of wasps, and its eyes are quite a different shape.

Panasonic DMC-FZ2000
1/160s f/4.0 at 9.8mm iso125 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
Kevin D Warren20-Sep-2022 20:57
A very beautiful close-up in the goldenrod with that dof. I thought Yellowjacket but something didn't seem quite right... :-)
Ton T.06-Oct-2018 17:37
A fabulous shot of this impressive Hover fly Christine! V
Paolo Peggi (aka Bracciodiferro)28-Sep-2018 19:11
Great catch my friend! Vote
Paolo
Graeme28-Sep-2018 10:20
I would of taken this for a wasp, thanks for the the information about it, Christine.V!!
Margot W28-Sep-2018 02:53
Thanks again for that Christine. I was fooled again. Great photo.
hayl27-Sep-2018 23:00
A fantastic photo - and an informative description.
carol j. phipps27-Sep-2018 22:59
Beautiful composition, color, and detail. Exciting new information. V
Hank Vander Velde27-Sep-2018 22:41
Beautiful tack sharp side-view shot of this Hover Fly in a nice setting Christine.
Fabienne27-Sep-2018 20:52
WOW, c’est une fantastique macro.
Pierre Martin27-Sep-2018 20:12
superb detailed picture, almost a perfect mimic!
joseantonio27-Sep-2018 20:03
lovely with that light.V.
Walter Otto Koenig27-Sep-2018 18:53
Great close up with this fine detail. So glad you added this interesting information. "V"
Don Mottershead27-Sep-2018 18:22
Thanks for the interesting info. Great capture.
globalgadabout27-Sep-2018 16:21
a remarkable resemblance indeed...love the yellow theme to the image..
Jim Coffman27-Sep-2018 15:28
Awesome capture, Christine!!
Helen Betts27-Sep-2018 15:24
Beautiful capture of this most fascinating insect. V.
danad27-Sep-2018 15:13
Amazing ! Without you note I'll never imagine...Great macro ! V.
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