Hoverfly

Thanks to Eugene for this photograph of a hoverfly feeding on the pollen of an Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) taken on our monthly walk in June. Hoverflies are pollinators. They, unlike the majority of insects, can digest pollen. The surface coating of pollen is resistant to the digestive juices of most insects. The yellowness of a hoverfly can reflect the amount and type of pollen which it has eaten.

This is one of the Helophilus species of hoverflies. Alas this photograph doesn't reveal which of the varieties of Helophilus hoverflies this is. They are distinguishable by the markings on the hind leg. So we need to photograph both the body and the legs next time. These kind of hoverflies are most frequent in damp places and are often seen basking on waterside vegetation.