When it's a hoverfly
It's not only the bees that simply adore our cardoon and artichoke flowers. Lots of hoverflies come to browse the flowers too.
These flies are pretending to be wasps as a defence but it is no defence against humans who have a pathelogical hatred of wasps!
There are over 250 varieties of hoverflies. I'm hoping these are Syrphus torvus as their larvae are aphid crunchers! They don't seem to have a more user friendly name but apparently have hairy eyes and these seemed to have just that - if you wonder how I came to that conclusion then visit my website to read a bit more.
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I've had loads of hoverflies in my garden since I planted up my border with native flowers. There's been lots of ladybirds around this year too.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo,
ReplyDeleteDon't know why your commet hasn'y appeared here - we have lots of ladybirds too.
Jo said
ReplyDeleteI've had loads of hoverflies in my garden since I planted up my border with native flowers. There's been lots of ladybirds around this year too.
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ReplyDeleteI have lost count the amount of times I say to my Hubby 'It's not a wasp!!@ He hates the things....we have had plenty of hover flies around and ladybirds along with their pupae and larvae....the kids get a real kick out of learning about the ladybird life-cycle so thanks for posting that!!
ReplyDeleteHi Tanya,
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many wasps and ladybird larvae meet their end as a result of mistaken identity.
We once raised ladybirds at school. We found some eggs on the back of a stone and 'grew them on.They were the best fed larvae on the planet as the kids kept the jar full of aphids for them.
ohh, hairy eyes!! Isn't the world an amazing place.
ReplyDeleteNext thing they'll be wearing mascara Carrie :D
ReplyDeleteI have heard about hooverflies only when I started gardening. Before they were all wasps. I didn't like bumble bees also. Now I keep flowering weeds in garden just because they like it.
ReplyDeleteI just love watching bumble bees Vrtlarica
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