Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
This is one of at least six honey bees gathering pollen from crocuses in the local wildlife park this afternoon. No butterflies today though.
Taken with Sony A700 with 70-210 F4 'Beercan' and Canon 500D close up lens.
Taken with Sony A700 with 70-210 F4 'Beercan' and Canon 500D close up lens.
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- Dave McCormick
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Very nice bee pic...Nice to see the weather improving and letting the bees/butterflies and other insects out. Reminds me, I gotta check the hive of honeybees in orchard nearby to see if there is life in it. Been there for as long as I can remember.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
First bumblebee of the year - a queen Bombus terrestris buzzing loudly around a patch of gorse bushes, nectaring as she went.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Hi all.
I've seen several of these insects about recently, but can anyone tell me what they are? Looks like a honey bee with a few genes from some species of fly thrown in for a good mixture!
Regards
Deano.
I've seen several of these insects about recently, but can anyone tell me what they are? Looks like a honey bee with a few genes from some species of fly thrown in for a good mixture!
Regards
Deano.
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
It's a hoverfly (bees have antennae), many of which are bee or wasp mimics obtaining some degree of protection from predactors due to their appearance. I have no idea which species this is.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Looks like it is carrying a couple of passengers too.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Thank you eccles for identifying my hoverfly. I shall remember what you said about bees having antennae.
Regards
Deano
Regards
Deano
- Dave McCormick
- Posts: 2388
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
First bumble bee of the year for me, a queen Bombus terrestris flying past my house.
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Gruditch
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Are you sure Eccles, looks like a Bee to me.
I haven't seen any hoverflies about yet, I think the antennae is pointing this way, your old eyes are going
Gruditch
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Gruditch
- Dave McCormick
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Think it is a hoverfly. Is it Eristalis similis or one type of Eoseristalis hoverfly?
Cheers all,
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
My Website: My new website: http://daveslepidoptera.com/ - Last Update: 11/10/2011
My Nature videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamixWarePro
- Gruditch
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
No idea, I'll take your word for it, not good at bee's,
Not long now till the Bee-flies turn up, to add to the confusion.
Gruditch
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
It is easy to tell if it is a hover fly or not just by looking at the eyes. Even with the bee mimics the hover fly eyes are really big.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Now come on everybody - bee or hoverfly - I'm really confused now you know!
Regards
Deano
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Regards
Deano
- Pete Eeles
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Looks like a hoverfly to me ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
One distinguishing feature is that a hoverfly has one pair of wings, whereas a bee or wasp has 2 pairs.
Also - hoverflies do have antennae - they're just reduced.
Here's a nice source: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... flies.html
Cheers,
- Pete
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
One distinguishing feature is that a hoverfly has one pair of wings, whereas a bee or wasp has 2 pairs.
Also - hoverflies do have antennae - they're just reduced.
Here's a nice source: http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/art ... flies.html
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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British & Irish Butterflies Rarities: http://www.butterflyrarities.com
- Gruditch
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Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Sorry my fault Deano, I was just surprised to see a hover-fly out and about, so early in the year.
Gruditch
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Gruditch
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Dave is right. It's a hoverfly in the genus Eristalis, well known mimics of honeybees. There are several similar species.
Misha
Misha
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Thank you all. I've certainly learned a lot from posting that photo!
Kind regards
Deano.
Kind regards
Deano.
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
Ah, but does anyone know what the parasites are? ![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
I got a snap of a hover yesterday too. The sun was shining then which seems impossible with the horrible wet windy weather we have now.
![Image](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/Lizzysue3/IMG_4016.jpg)
![Image](http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e235/Lizzysue3/IMG_4016.jpg)
Re: Not Lepidoptera (Bees)
I think both hoverflies are Eristalini, with a good candidate being Eristalis tenax...but this is my first try at identifying hoverflies, other than the very easy (and extremely colourful) Volucella species.