I Think These Are Overflies: The title should be Hoverflies. In my photography session in the back yard this morning I saw a number of these flies. I think they are hover flies but...

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

The title should be Hoverflies.

In my photography session in the back yard this morning I saw a number of these flies. I think they are hover flies but perhaps not. IF not I know someone will set me straight. The last one showing movement was the fly starting to take off just as I clicked the shutter.

Dennis

(Download)

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Flies have 4 legs and bees have 6.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

jim quist wrote:

Flies have 4 legs and bees have 6.

Thanks Jim. OK they are in the bee family but what are they called please? Surely better than Fred and Ethel.

Dennis

JimmyTB

jim quist wrote:

Flies have 4 legs and bees have 6.

I have no idea what these are but I want to follow this thread to find out.

I thought flies and bees were both in the sub-phylum Hexapoda which means 6 feet. Hopefully the resident bug experts will ID for us

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Nice shots Dennis. This may help you. First, look at the wings: bees have four wings, but flies have two wings. Second, look at the antennae: bees have elbowed antennae, while many flies have short, stubby, or hair-thin antennae. If you can't see the antennae, you're probably looking at a fly.
>i< Doc

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

JimmyTB wrote:

I have no idea what these are but I want to follow this thread to find out.

I thought flies and bees were both in the sub-phylum Hexapoda which means 6 feet. Hopefully the resident bug experts will ID for us

Thanks Jimmy, my thoughts too.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

docshark wrote:

Nice shots Dennis. This may help you. First, look at the wings: bees have four wings, but flies have two wings. Second, look at the antennae: bees have elbowed antennae, while many flies have short, stubby, or hair-thin antennae. If you can't see the antennae, you're probably looking at a fly.
>i< Doc

Doc I appreciate your input as I do everyone's. I have another question though and a comment. My question, are all of these photos of the same critter. I thought they were different but in looking just before posting I thought in the last three, there looks to be a similar black and white body under the wings. But looking right now the top few photos have red eyes while the last few have green eyes. I used a diffused flash on these photos so thought maybe it was the flash circumstances that brought out the green or red eyes. But some of these have what I consider elbowed antennae as a bee would but others have short stubby antennae AND two wings as a fly would. They all seem to have two wings.

I am so confused. All of these critters were also bee like in size.

Dennis

randave2001 Loc: Richmond

jim quist wrote:

Flies have 4 legs and bees have 6.

You are joking, right? Both have 6 legs!

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

dennis2146 wrote:

Doc I appreciate your input as I do everyone's. I... (show quote)

Your first three shots appear to be a Flower Fly possibly Scaeva pyrastri.
The bees appear to be Cuckoo Bees possibly Epeolus. I will defer to an expert.
>i< Doc

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

docshark wrote:

Your first three shots appear to be a Flower Fly possibly Scaeva pyrastri.
The bees appear to be Cuckoo Bees possibly Epeolus. I will defer to an expert.
>i< Doc

Thank you Doc for your comments. Much appreciated sir.

Dennis

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Outstanding series.

boomboom Loc: Stow, Ohio

dennis2146 wrote:

The title should be Hoverflies.

In my photography session in the back yard this morning I saw a number of these flies. I think they are hover flies but perhaps not. IF not I know someone will set me straight. The last one showing movement was the fly starting to take off just as I clicked the shutter.

Dennis

I think they are called Pied Hoverflies. Non toxic to humans.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

sippyjug104 wrote:

Outstanding series.

Thank you sippy. Your comments are always appreciated.

Dennis

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

jim quist wrote:

Flies have 4 legs and bees have 6.

Flies have 6 legs.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Very nice Dennis