Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans var. plumata) visiting a greater knapweed flower (Centaurea scabiosa) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Hover-fly (Volucella species) close-up of head, Oxfordshire, UK

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Europe

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Hoverfly (Syrphidae), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Hoverfly (Syrphidae) (Diptera), North West Bulgaria, EuropeOrder Diptera (true flies);Sub-order Cyclorrhapha

Episyrphus balteatus, sometimes called the marmalade hoverfly; like most other hoverflies it mimics a much more dangerous insect, the solitary wasp, though it is a quite harmless species

As their common name suggests, they are often seen hovering or nectaring at flowers; the adults of many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen, while the larvae (maggots) eat a wide range of foods.

Autumn crocus, Meadow saffron, Naked lady (Colchicum speciosum) with hoverfly, Haren, Emsland region, Lower Saxony, Germany, Europe

Hoverflies, (Episyrphus balteatus) and bees (Api mellifera) on aromatic aster blossom (Aster oblongifolius)

Hoverfly (Volucella inanis)

Dangling sunlover (Helophilus pendulus), Moessensee, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, Europe

Hoverfly (Volucella inanis)

Sphaerophoria scripta

Syrphus vitripennis

Eristalis arbustorum female

Myathropa florea

Helophilus trivittatus female and male

Helophilus trivittatus female

Eupeodes latifasciatus

Syrphus vitripennis

hoverfly portrait head thorax lateral view