The Cairngorms Up-Close: Gallery
[CAIRNGORMS UP-CLOSE] [DEEPGREEN.EARTH]
Group: HOVERFLIES
Snouted duckfly (Anasimyia lineata)
Where and when encountered: Milton Loch on 1 June 2024
About: Hoverflies of the species Anasimyia lineata may 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.
Years with at least one adult record: 2024 (1)
Gossamer hoverfly (Baccha elongata)
Where and when encountered: Nethy Bridge on 23 August 2025
About: Hoverflies of the species Baccha elongata are typically found in shady habitats, especially those with lush vegetation. Adults visit a range of flowers including bramble and selfheal. They are widespread across Great Britain but less commonly encountered to the north than to the south of Hadrian's Wall.
Date range for live (non-diapausing) adult records: 23 August to 24 September (33 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
Foxy blacklet (Cheilosia chrysocoma)
Where and when encountered: Anagach Woods on 5 May 2025
About: Cheilosia chrysocoma is a nationally scarce species of hoverfly, with a very patchy distribution in Great Britain. These hoverflies may be encountered in damp woodland rides and clearings, in marshes, and in damp meadows, especially where wild angelica is well-established.
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 5 to 24 May (20 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
Northern spearhorn (Chrysotoxum arcuatum)
Where and when encountered: Abernethy Forest on 21 June 2024
About: Hoverflies of the species Chrysotoxum arcuatum have an upland distribution within Great Britain.
Years with at least one adult record: 2024 (1)
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.
Years with at least one adult record: 2022 (1)
Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 8 July 2025
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 18 June to 24 September (99 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 (4)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 18 May to 17 October (153 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 (4)
Common dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Where and when encountered: Glenbeg on 12 October 2025
About: Insects of this species can be found throughout Great Britain and are one of the most widespread hoverflies on the planet. They are unusual for hoverflies in overwintering as adults.
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 3 to 14 June (12 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2022, 2024 (2)
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 may be encountered in many corners of Great Britain, although their distribution is restricted in the far north.
Years with at least one adult record: 2022 (1)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 18 May to 14 June (28 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2024 (1)
Pale-saddled Leucozona (Leucozona glaucia)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 8 July 2025
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 8 July to 5 September (60 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2021, 2023, 2025 (3)
Dark-saddled Leucozona (Leucozona laternaria)
Where and when encountered: Boat of Garten on 30 June 2025
About: Hoverflies of the species Leucozona laternaria are typically encountered on umbellifers such as hogweed in woodland rides and clearings, especially within damper woods. They are fairly widespread in England and Wales but somewhat more sporadically distributed in Scotland.
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 2 June to 16 August (76 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2022, 2024, 2025 (3)
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 possibly the deadly Entomophthora muscae.
Years with at least one adult record: 2022, 2024, 2025 (3)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 6 May to 24 September (142 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2022, 2024, 2025 (3)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 16 May to 8 July (54 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2022, 2024 (2)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 6 May to 30 August (117 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2024, 2025 (2)
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.
Years with at least one adult record: 2022 (1)
White-barred peat fly (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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 19 May to 22 June (35 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2024, 2025 (2)
Yellow-barred peat fly (Sericomyia silentis)
Where and when encountered: Loch Vaa 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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 9 June to 21 September (105 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 (4)
Furry peat fly (Sericomyia superbiens)
Where and when encountered: Grantown-on-Spey on 12 August 2025
About: Hoverflies of the species Sericomyia superbiens are bumblebee mimics with an uplands-skewed distribution in Great Britain. They are most often encountered in the vicinity of damp peaty woodland. The adults are thought to have a preference for feeding on the flower-heads of devil's-bit scabious.
Years with at least one adult record: 2025 (1)
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 live (non-diapausing) adult records: 17 June to 9 September (85 days)
Years with at least one adult record: 2021, 2022, 2025 (3)
Selected galleries
[ALL-TIME HIGHLIGHTS] [ARCTIC ALPINE PLANTS] [BUTTERFLIES] [COLOURFUL MOTHS] [DRAGONFLIES] [FORBS] [GALLS] [GRASSLAND ORCHIDS] [HOVERFLIES] [INSECTS OF EXPOSED RIVER SEDIMENT] [LONGHORN BEETLES] [PINE-ASSOCIATED FUNGI] [PLANT BUGS] [SHIELDBUGS] [UNCOMMON PINEWOOD HERBS] [WOODY PLANTS]