HoverflySpotterM.D
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hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
HoverflySpotterM.D
@hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
37 followers 61 following 32 posts
Naturalist, Environmental Biologist and Data Analyst specialising in hoverflies. Trustee of the British Naturalist Association & recipient of the Richard Fitter medal.
My site https://hoverflyspotter.blogspot.com is about Hoverflies & Nature's Joy.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
cathhodsman.bsky.social
Did u know?This is one of the most important organisms on earth - moss. It's amazing what it does to maintain healthy ecosystems. It minimises soil erosion; captures carbon; harbours tiny souls in its unique habitat & filters & purifies water & air in its dense structure - make room for moss. 🌱🌿🇬🇧🌱🌍🦠
November 10, 2025 at 5:54 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Explored the grounds of #WortleyHall S.Yorkshire yesterday with the BNATs and spotted 20 species of #Fungi – bringing our monthly total to 53 species from two visits!. Wortley Hall is truly a magical spot for fungi lovers. 🌳✨ #Mycology #NatureWalk #Nature #BNATs #Wildlife #Autumnvibes #Fungifriends
Withes Hat, Poor Man's Liquorice and Yellow Fieldcap
November 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
jtkindt.bsky.social
Happy #flyday ! A couple of gorgeous hoverflies from last weekend, gorgeous weather after a week of gloom in Atlanta. Spilomyia longicornis, (eastern hornet fly, which puts on an intimidating hornet imitation) and Helophilis fasciatus, narrow-headed marsh fly.
#flyfriday #insects #macrophotography
Fly that looks like a yellowjacket on small white aster flower. Fly has yellow stripes on abdomen, a yellow chevron on thorax, and yellow stripes on its big eyes. Hoverfly on a brown leaf. Fly has yellow and bronze patterns on abdomen, four longitudinal bronze lines on a black thorax, and large dark eyes.
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Lunuled wings gleam,
Banded dancers trace green paths—
Ivy hums with life.
#Haiku #haikupoem #haikupoetry #Hoverflies #flies #Insects #pollinator #nature #syrphidae #knowledge #biology #wildlife #diptera
Left picture Lunuled Aphideater (Eupeodes luniger), Right picture Common Banded (Syrphus ribesii) all found on the Ivy bush centre.
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
My Species of the Week: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) Fascinating #Hoverflies that mimic male drone honeybees.🐝This article explores its larval biology and gives helpful Identification tips. #flies #Insects #pollinator #nature #syrphidae #biology #wildlife #diptera. Hope you will visit. 📚
Hoverfly Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) : A review of its resemblance to a male drone honeybee, Identification tips, its larval biology and where to see it.
hoverflyspotter.blogspot.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
chrismothman.bsky.social
Gravestone aggregation of Firebugs in Wivenhoe New Cemetery today, a welcome splash of colour in the absence of the customary waxcaps...
November 5, 2025 at 8:49 PM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
After 2 yrs, a hedgehog’s back in my garden! 🦔🔥 Before lighting bonfires, MOVE & CHECK for hidden hogs! #Wildlife #Autumn. Haven’t seen it in a week so it might have gone into hibernation?
-Check a fire save a ‘hog. 🦔🔥 Nobody likes a crispy Hedgehog! -
#Bonfire #Fireworks #NatureLove #Hedgehogs.
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
cathhodsman.bsky.social
Did u know? On milder days, you'll still see pollinators on the wing, so it's a fab idea to have something in flower all year-round. These Fatsia japonica are in full bloom now (not indigenous, but hey-ho) and my wonderful wasps are taking full advantage of their lovely nectar rich blooms. 🌱🌿🇬🇧🌱🌍🪲
November 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Mild autumn vibes 🍂 Hoverflies still buzzing! 🐝 Spotted a Common Dainty Hoverfly (Baccha elongata) on the ivy today 🌿 #flies #Insects #pollinator #nature #syrphidae #biology #wildlife #diptera #garden Bit late in the season for this little one. #climatechange
Common Dainty Hoverfly (Baccha elongata) on a Ivy leaf. Photo didn't come out very well so this is from earlier this year Photograph of Common Dainty hoverfly taken today on Ivy, shame the picture came out blurred.
November 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
cathhodsman.bsky.social
Did u know? This is what my wildlife garden looks like in winter. Stalks, stems, seed heads & leaves are all left to shelter small souls until the warmer weather returns. This isn't a mess, this is nature's quiet time where life rests & prepares to renew for the next season. Believe in brown 🤎 🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍
November 1, 2025 at 6:41 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
🎃 It’s Halloween, and the shadows are stirring…
💀 Dare to unearth the sinister secret of the Junk Bug!
👻 What it is. Where it lurks. And why it will send shivers down your spine!
🕷️ Wishing you all a Happy Halloween! 🦇
#Halloween #Insects #BugSpotting #MicroSafari #Naturewalk #ForestFinds #Autumn
Junk Bug
Uncover the mystery of the Junk Bug – what it is, where it lives, and why it’s fascinating!
hoverflyspotter.blogspot.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
fossilforager.bsky.social
North American Hoverflies! 🪰
An illustrated poster with numbers and an identification key, highlighting the diversity of Hoverfly species found in North America. 18 flies are drawn on the poster. These flies are generally striped/have patterns that make them resemble bees. They are illustrated on a light earthy yellow-green background.
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
craftygreenpoet.bsky.social
Stinkhorn, Sion Parkinson's book about the well known smelly fungus is an excellent read, I reviewed it over on my blog craftygreenpoet.blogspot.com/2025/10/stin...
Stinkhorn by Sion Parkinson
I attended an event at this year's  Edinburgh International Book Festival at which Sion Parkinson was speaking and I bought the book afte...
craftygreenpoet.blogspot.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
cathhodsman.bsky.social
Did u know?This is one of the most fab animals on earth. Earthworms & other detritivores create & care for the soil that covers our planet.Their actions take down & break down organic matter & their subterranean actions aerate & mix soil. Worms are wonderful, so keep yr garden chemical free.🌿🌱🇬🇧🌱🌍🪱
October 28, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
jackwallington.com
Who invented the term “leaf litter” as if leaves are a negative thing?
October 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
First Culture book read: Player of Games by Iain Banks. Loved the mind-games, still baffled by rules of the #boardgame Azad, frightening to think that their emperors & positions of power are selected from how good you play this game! Any other Culture must-reads I wonder? #Scifi #Booksky #Bookreview
Front cover of the book The Player of Games by Iain M.Banks 1988 2nd book of the culture series
October 28, 2025 at 10:50 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Super half day at #RSPB Mersehead yesterday mass flocks of Barnacle geese, wonderful views of Pintail, whilst in the skies were Buzzards, Red Kites & Merlin. On the beach was a Small Spotted Catshark #Eggcase, no Skate/Ray cases.
#Naturewalk #HiddenWonders #Scotland #Birdwatching #Marinelife
A panoramic view taken on one of the walking paths around RSPB nature reserve Small Spotted Shark Eggcase brown and with plenty of tendrils
October 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
ianbeavis.bsky.social
Two late-flying hoverflies - Helophilus pendulus & Eupeodes luniger - on Tunbridge Wells Common yesterday
October 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Explored the stunning Wigtown coastal path Friday and ended at the historic Martyrs’ Stone. Spotted 27 bird species along the way – including an impressive flock of 60+ fieldfares! 🐦✨

#Naturewalk #HiddenWonders #Scotland #Birdwatching #Birding
A stone explaining the story of the Wigtown Matyrs The Matyrs stone
October 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
In Wigtown Scotland yesterday caught these 2 hoverflies basking in the sun and feeding on the Ivy. Common Banded (Syrphus ribesii) and Tapered Dronefly. (Eristalis pertinax).
#Hoverflies #Flies #Insects #Pollinator #Nature #Syrphidae #Diptera
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax) feeding on Ivy Common Banded (Syrphus ribesii) basking in the sun on a Bramble leaf
October 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
In Caelaverock yesterday watching the thousands Barnacle geese and the few Whooper swans that had arrived so far #Birds #Nature #Migration #Autumn Hoverflies seen Common Banded, Broad Banded, Common & Tapered Dronefly, Common Grey #Syrphidae #Hoverflies
Scene of the pools at Caerlaverock wetland centre watching the Whooper Swans & Barancle Geese
October 24, 2025 at 7:38 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Hoverflies on the move! 🚀 These tiny pollinators embark on incredible journeys, all sparked by hidden genetic switches in their larvae. Nature never ceases to amaze! 🌍✨ #Hoverflies #Syrphidae #Diptera #Flies #Insects #Pollinator #Nature #Knowledge #Biology #Wildlife
Hoverfly Migration: Incredible Journeys
Explore the remarkable hoverfly migration, incredible journeys triggered by larval genetic switches deciding between flight or diapause for adulthood.
hoverflyspotter.blogspot.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
hoverflyspotter.bsky.social
Happy National Moss Day! 🌿✨
Celebrating the tiny green wonders that carpet our forests, walls, and stones.
October 21st — a day to appreciate the quiet beauty of moss and its role in our ecosystems. 💚
#NationalMossDay #MossMagic #Moss #Nature #Autumn #HiddenWonders #Bryophytes
A mossy dog taken near Rievaulx Abbey near York. It wasn't a sculpture nor a dog statue covered in moss as far as I could tell.
October 21, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
eurotaxonomy.cetaf.org
🟨 A team of scientists has unveiled a hidden world of hoverflies in the Caucasus, focusing on the genus Cheilosia. By combining literature review, field expeditions, and DNA analysis, they identified 14 species new to science, each with its own unique traits.

📖Read the full study: shorturl.at/i3L4L
October 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by HoverflySpotterM.D
chrismothman.bsky.social
Lots of insect activity in Beth Chatto Gardens today, including the second garden record of Gorse Shield-bug. Blog after my walk for Friends next week.
October 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM