GALLERY
Category: TRUE FLIES
Snouted duckfly (Anasimyia lineata)
Where and when encountered: Milton Loch on 1 June 2024
About: Hoverflies of the species Anasimyia lineata can be encountered around thickly vegetated damp areas with plants such as irises and willowherbs. They are fairly widespread in England and Wales but much more sporadically distributed in Scotland.
Red-thighed St Mark's fly (Bibio pomonae)
Where and when encountered: Foal's Well on 22 August 2024
About: Red-thighed St Mark's flies are associated, in particular, with open upland habitats, but they can be found from the far north to the far south of Great Britain.
Foxy blacklet (Cheilosia chrysocoma)
Where and when encountered: Anagach Woods on 5 May 2025
About: Cheilosia chrysocoma is a nationally scarce species of hoverfly, reflecting their patchy distribution in Great Britain. These hoverflies may be encountered in damp woodland rides and clearings, in marshes, and in damp meadows.
Editor's note: I am reasonably confident of the species identification of the hoverfly photographed.
Bumblebee blacklet (Cheilosia illustrata)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 13 May 2025
About: Hoverflies of the species Cheilosia illustrata can be found in most corners of Great Britain, although they are somewhat less commonly encountered in the far north than elsewhere. The larvae develop in the roots of hogweed and possibly several other umbellifers too.
Date range for adult records: 5 to 24 May
Broad centurion (Chloromyia formosa)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 14 June 2024
About: Broad centurion soldier flies can be encountered in most parts of Great Britain, although they become rarer further north. Their larvae derive nourishment from decaying organic, while the adults feed from flowers, including hogweed.
Date range for adult records: 13 to 14 June
Two-banded spearhorn (Chrysotoxum bicinctum)
Where and when encountered: Craigellachie NNR on 27 June 2022
About: Hoverflies in this species favour open grassland and grassy woodland rides. They are widely distributed and relatively common in the south of Great Britain but less so in northern areas.
Fever-fly (Dilophus febrilis)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 5 June 2022
About: Fever flies may be encountered from the far north to the far south of Great Britain.
Editor's note: I am reasonably confident of the identification of the fly photographed.
Single-striped Xanthempis (Empis stercorea)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 22 May 2025
About: Flies of the species Empis stercorea are typically encountered in lush habitats, including woodland edges, scrubby grassland, and field margins. They can be found in various corners of Great Britain.
Editor's note: The dark tarsi reassure me that the fly photographed has been correctly identified (there is a very similar species with paler tarsi).
Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Where and when encountered: Cromdale on 19 August 2021
About: These insects are instantly recognizable within Great Britain's hoverfly fauna from the two black 'moustaches' on their abdomen. The coloration of individuals within the species is indicative of the temperature at which the larvae developed: a greater amount of orange suggests warmer conditions, while more black indicates a cooler formative environment. The larvae feed on a wide range of aphids, including those that abound within agricultural crops. The species is common in many parts of Great Britain.
Date range for adult records: 11 August to 10 September
Tapered dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
Where and when encountered: Carrbridge on 8 July 2022
About: Hoverflies in this species can be found throughout Great Britain in a wide range of habitats, from spring through to autumn.
Date range for adult records: 18 May to 5 September
Common spotted field syrph (Eupeodes luniger)
Where and when encountered: Dulnain Bridge on 3 June 2022
About: Members of the species Eupeodes luniger can be found throughout most of Great Britain, although they are more frequently encountered south of Hadrian's Wall. They can be seen in most months of the year, with a peak in numbers occurring in late summer.
Date range for adult records: 3 to 14 June
Marsh tiger hoverfly (Helophilus hybridus)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 24 June 2022
About: Hoverflies in this species favour wetland habitats, and they can be encountered in many corners of Great Britain, although their distribution is restricted in the far north.
The footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 14 June 2024
About: Known as the footballer, on account of the jersey-like vertically striped thorax (although this is not unique to this species of hoverfly), Helophilus pendulus may be encountered in the vicinity of ponds, muddy puddles, and wet ditches, as well in sunny spots away from water. The species is widespread across Great Britain.
Date range for adult records: 18 May to 14 June
Aspen wingwaver (Homalocephala biumbrata)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 22 May 2025
About: Aspen wingwavers are rarely encountered insects restricted to the northern par of Great Britain and especially the Scottish Highlands. The vernacular name references their habit of waving their wings while walking over fallen aspen trunks and branches. Females have been recorded laying eggs into cracks in bark.
Date range for adult records: 21 to 22 May
Bumblebee robberfly (Laphria flava)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 24 May 2025
About: Bumblebee robberflies are large predatory insects. Their larvae develop in decaying pine wood, where they predate longhorn beetle grubs. Ancient Caledonian pine forest in the Scottish Highlands, especially that in the Cairngorms, is the stronghold for the species. However, the distribution of the species appears to be expanding.
Date range for adult records: 24 May to 10 July
Pale-saddled Leucozona (Leucozona glaucia)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 5 September 2021
About: Insects in this species can principally be found in the north and west of Great Britain, where they may be one of the most abundant hoverflies around the height of summer.
Date range for adult records: 10 August to 5 September
Blotch-winged whitebelt (Leucozona lucorum)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 7 June 2022
About: Hoverflies in this species can be found throughout Great Britain, with a peak in abundance around the middle of spring.
Date range for adult records: 2 to 21 June
Chequered hoverfly (Melanostoma scalare)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 7 July 2022
About: Chequered hoverflies can be seen flying in various corners of Great Britain from April to November.
Editor's note: The white powder on the wings and abdomen of this female is not pollen but a fungus, quite possible the deadly Entomophthora muscae.
Banded Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva cinctella)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 25 July 2024
About: Hoverflies of the species Meliscaeva cinctella can be found from the far north to the far south of Great Britain.
Date range for adult records: 6 May to 25 July
Noon fly (Mesembrina meridiana)
Where and when encountered: Rothiemurchus Estate on 18 May 2024
About: Noon flies can be encountered in most corners of Great Britain. Their larvae live in cow pats and horse excrement, feeding on other dung-inhabiting invertebrates.
Editor's note: Most sources do not discuss the meaning of the noon fly's vernacular name, but one account that I found supported the obvious interpretation: they can be seen around noon (among other times).
Date range for adult records: 18 May to 25 July
Batman hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
Where and when encountered: Carrbridge on 8 July 2022
About: Colloquially known as the 'Batman' hoverfly, on account of the distinct marking that can be seen on the thorax of many individuals in this species, this fly can be found from the far north to the far south of Great Britain, with a peak in numbers in mid-summer.
Date range for adult records: 16 May to 8 July
Common awl robberfly (Neoitamus cyanurus)
Where and when encountered: Free Church Wood on 10 August 2023
About: The 'awl' in the vernacular name of this robberfly species refers to the narrowed end of the abdomen possessed by females (like the individual in the photograph). This species has a strong association with woodland and can be found in various corners of Great Britain, although less commonly so in Scotland than to the south of Hadrian's Wall.
Date range for adult records: 25 July to 10 August
Downlooker snipefly (Rhagio scolopaceus)
Where and when encountered: Speybridge on 25 May 2024
About: Downlooker snipeflies are predatory insects whose name references their habit of resting on fence-posts and in other suitable places with their face pointing to the ground, as they await passing prey. These snipeflies can be found in most parts of Great Britain.
Date range for adult records: 21 to 25 May
Marsh snipefly (Rhagio tringarius)
Where and when encountered: Castle Grant on 29 July 2024
About: Marsh snipeflies can be found in most corners of Great Britain but are more patchily distributed to the north. Their larvae are predatory, feeding on invertebrates such as earthworms and small beetles.
Common snout (Rhingia campestris)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 6 May 2025
About: Hoverflies of the species Rhingia campestris can be found in most corners of Great Britain, although they are less commonly encountered in the far north than elsewhere. The long snout facilitates their foraging on tubulous flowers.
Date range for adult records: 6 May to 30 August
Pied hoverfly (Scaeva pyrastri)
Where and when encountered: Glenmore Forest Park on 9 September 2022
About: Pied hoverflies can be found in a range of habitats including gardens and meadows, across large parts of Great Britain. It is believed that successful overwintering is rare for this species in Great Britain, and so the population depends in large part on migration from mainland Europe.
Yellow dung fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
Where and when encountered: Speybridge on 28 April 2025
About: Yellow dung flies may be encountered in most corners of Great Britain. Adults feed mainly on small invertebrates, while the larvae develop in the dung of a wide range of mammals.
Date range for adult records: 28 April to 25 August
White-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia lappona)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 22 May 2025
About: This hoverfly species has a preference for boggy habitats and is most abundant in the north and west of Great Britain.
Date range for adult records: 19 May to 22 June
Yellow-barred peat hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis)
Where and when encountered: Boat of Garten on 27 August 2021
About: This hoverfly species has a preference for habitats with acidic soil and is most abundant in the north and west of Great Britain. It has been suggested that adults tend to feed on flower-heads that are red or purple in colour.
Date range for adult records: 9 June to 9 September
Ferruginous bee-grabber (Sicus ferrugineus)
Where and when encountered: Milton Loch on 22 June 2024
About: Sicus ferrugineus is a species of Conopid fly with a distribution that covers various parts of Great Britain, including the Scottish Highlands. The life-cycle of this fly relies on the injection of an egg by females into the abdomen of a worker bumblebee.
Northern silver-stiletto (Spiriverpa lunulata)
Where and when encountered: Sluggan (Carrbridge) on 27 June 2024
About: The northern silver-stiletto is a fly associated with exposed sediment along sandy or stony watercourses. The majority of this species' Great British population is found in the Scottish Highlands, with Strathspey being a particularly important area, but the fly has also been found elsewhere in western and northern areas.
Burdock Tephritis (Tephritis bardanae)
Where and when encountered: Castle Grant on 29 July 2024
About: Flies of the species Tephritis bardanae can be found in various corners of Great Britain but are less commonly encountered to the north. Larvae feed in burdock flower-heads, where they cause galls to form.
Great pied hoverfly (Volucella pellucens)
Where and when encountered: Carrbridge on 8 July 2022
About: Great pied hoverflies are widespread across Great Britain. Their larvae inhabit the nests of social wasps, where they scavenge among the debris.
Date range for adult records: 17 June to 9 September
Selected galleries
[ARCTIC ALPINE PLANTS] [BUTTERFLIES] [DRAGONFLIES] [FORBS] [FUNGI] [GALLS] [HYMENOPTERANS] [LONGHORN BEETLES] [MOTHS] [SELECTIONS BY EDITOR] [SHIELDBUGS] [TRUE BUGS] [TRUE FLIES] [UNCOMMON PINEWOOD HERBS] [WOODY PLANTS]