Marmalade hoverfly © Nick Upton/2020VISION
Ever wondered what footballers and Batman have in common with hoverflies? Well, it’s all in the name...
Both have lent their name to a species of hoverfly: one has stripes like a football kit, while another bears a symbol just like Batman.
With around 270 species of hoverfly in the UK, you are likely to come across a fascinating array of colours and sizes.
Batman hoverfly © Vaughn Matthews
Marmalade hoverfly © Chris Lawrence
A hornet mimic hoverfly © Joan Burkmar
Despite mimicking the warning colours of wasps and bees, hoverflies won't harm us as they don’t have a sting.
So, learning the difference is important, especially when a hornet mimic hoverfly appears – it’s large, loud, and yellow and black, but completely harmless. A real hornet is not likely to hurt you either, unless it's stressed.
Volucella bombylans © Janet Packham
Hoverflies go through all the stages of insect life - from egg to soft bodied larva, to hard pupa and finally, a winged adult. The larvae of hoverflies are amazingly diverse.
Some live in water, including the appropriately named ‘rat-tailed maggots’, which have a long pipe in their rear end like a snorkel to poke above the surface of the water and breathe in air.
Others are voracious aphid eaters. Whether they live in decaying wood or sip on sap from living trees, hoverflies are remarkably adaptable and diverse.
So, who are the heroes in this story? The hoverflies!
Their ecological role is indispensable. Hoverflies are key pollinators in our gardens and fields, supporting the growth of fruits and vegetables – vital for healthy footballers everywhere. But hoverflies do more than just pollinate.
Their larvae contribute by recycling leaf litter into fertile soil and, as part of the food chain, they feed many larger animals in water and above ground. They also help purify water by filtering out contaminants and keep plant-eating invertebrates, like aphids, in check.
Adult hoverflies are also on the menu for other wildlife, from spiders to birds. Observations from a tame spotted flycatcher even showed that some birds can distinguish between bees and the similarly patterned black and yellow hoverflies.
When eating bees, the flycatcher first rubbed off the sting before swallowing it. When eating hoverflies, it didn’t bother with this precaution.
The more you observe hoverflies, the more fascinating they become. I can attest to that, with countless photos on my smartphone—hoverflies, fortunately, tend to stay still long enough to be photographed, making them easier to identify than other bugs.
However, hoverflies face significant threats from intensive agriculture, habitat loss, harmful pesticides, water pollution, urban development and climate change.
Between 1980 and 2020, hoverfly populations in some areas declined by 44%, signalling a distressing trend. The UK’s hoverflies are now in danger.
But here's how you can help: transform your garden into a sanctuary with diverse flowers and a small pond to support their nesting, feeding, and mating needs.
Even a flower-filled window box can serve as a critical refuge for these tiny, beautiful pollinators.
By becoming a hoverfly ambassador, you not only contribute to their conservation but also spread awareness by sharing photos and facts about their benefits.
So next time you spot a hoverfly, seize the opportunity to educate others about these unsung heroes of our ecosystem.
Let's champion the cause of hoverflies together!
Image: Tom Marshall
Our weekly enewsletter (throughout spring & summer) features tips on gardening for wildlife, from looking after soil to encouraging hedgehogs.
