30 Days Wild - Day Three - Hover spotting

30 Days Wild - Day Three - Hover spotting

Helophilus pendulus is known at the “humbug hoverfly” for the stripes on the thorax. Image by Amy Gresham

The wonders of hovering hoverflies on day three of 30 Days Wild...

We have around 250 species of hoverflies in the UK, and this time of year (May-June) is a great time to see them. These harmless flower-loving pollinators are particularly interesting, as many species look like bees or wasps, which protects them from predation. This is known as “mimicry”. Once you start looking, you can see the huge variety of sizes, shapes and colours. Hoverflies can be found in almost any habitat and are likely to be just outside in your garden!

I like to look out for hoverflies throughout the year, flitting among flowers or hovering in shady spots. They’re great fun to photograph and identify, so grab a field guide and a camera (it's often easier to identify from a picture once you get home) and get out there! Below are some common species you may find, but there are hundreds more out there for you to discover. Happy hover spotting!

Day 03 icon for 30 Days Wild

 

Ways to go wild...

Go hover spotting! See if you can spot a hoverfly in your garden or on your way to work or school. They often look like bees or wasps, but when they fly they really do hover - especially in shady spots under trees. See if you can tell the difference.

Events during June for 30 Days Wild...

We've got loads going on all through June to help you go wild in our three counties. Visit our calendar for a full list of events.