Rose Campion With Hoverfly

Day 260: I can't count the number of times I've seen a Park visitor freak out when a "bee" hovered in front of their face, to then be disbelieving when I try to explain that the insect in question is a hoverfly, a bee-mimic and harmless. The combination of yellow and black stripes pushes the panic button in most people, and not without good reason. This of course works in the hoverfly's favour, keeping it from being snatched up by a bird. Besides not having a stinger, hoverflies (aka "flower flies" or syrphid flies) differ in appearance from bees in several ways, most notably that they possess only one pair of wings. Bees and wasps have two. Adult Hoverflies are known to suck "honeydew" from both aphids and scale (another insect pest), and Hoverfly larvae feed primarily (and voraciously!) on aphids. "Flower flies" are important pollinators, so count yourself doubly lucky if you have syrphids such as this specimen of Eupeodes fumipennis in your garden.

Hovering On Winter's Edge

Makeup Day (last one!) 13: Today, I discovered a rather unusual visitor in my garden: a hoverfly, aka "tiger fly." Normally something I associate with the high country and its dual attractors of Sitka Valerian and Rosy Spiraea, this wayward critter nevertheless exhibited the species' fondness for pink, and spent quite some time engaged in exploring all the nooks and crannies of a floppy Shirley poppy. Was he driven here by a falling barometer, or blown off course by the rising winds? In any event, I hope he finds a safe place to spend the night for despite his resemblance to something which might give you a nasty sting, Hoverfly is an innocent being and a vital pollinator.

With this entry, we conclude four calendar years of 365 Caws. I got a bit off in my numbering, hence the "makeup days" to bring this blog back to its starting date of October 14. Seasons willing and "the creek don't rise," I hope I may continue to entertain my readers with at least another year of essays, photos and ramblings.