Hoverflies in Paintings

Hoverflies in Art:

When I first started my blog, I had this question about whether I could find and spot hoverflies on canvas or within historical books? I just wanted to see if they popped up anywhere at all. I figured old identification guides would have a few, but paintings? That felt like a long shot.

Fast forward a few months, and as I have been researching for my species articles I have stumbled across paintings and prints in books and to be honest, it’s been such a fascinating ride I would like to share! 

Turns out hoverflies have been making appearances in art way earlier than I ever imagined. So, I thought, why not pull all my findings together into one article? Up until now, the bits and pieces have been scattered across different posts on the site.

Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far: Updated 3rd Feb 2026 with better images from the paintings of the hoverflies.

         Still life with Bird’s nest - Jan Van Huysum (1718) & A stoneware vase of flowers - Jan Brueghel the Elder (1607-1608).

Art

Painted by Dutch artist Jan Van Huysum 1718, a picture called Still life with Bird's Nest. It is a picture full of flowers, but if you zoom in on the bottom right corner just underneath and to the left of the bird’s nest, you can just about make out a Marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) with those distinctive abdominal markings. This hoverfly was painted 58 years before it was scientifically named by Swedish entomologist Charles De Geer in 1776.              

Credit: Artwork photographed by: Antonia Reeve

Visit the site linked below for more information about the picture and the artist. 

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/128298

Also on the same picture is the Narcissus Bulb fly (Merodon Equestris) its larva would have been living in the bulbs of the plants, where it overwinters. These larvae were brought into the UK by the Victorians, first recorded by G.H.Verrall on 8th June 1869 in a South London garden. Unbeknownst, they would have been hiding away as larva in the bulbs, before pupating and emerging as adults in gardens across the UK. On emergence they found a new area to colonise and thus they are now widespread across the UK.

Credit: Artwork photographed by: Antonia Reeve

When I produced the blog on the Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), I had done some significant research on the internet, and it had informed me that the painting above was the earliest documented evidence of a hoverfly on canvas. I guess you can’t always believe what the internet says. 

Dr J.Whitelock contacted me about an even older painting, pushing the date back for the earliest painting of a hoverfly now to be 1607-1608, a painting by Jan Brueghel the Elder 'A stoneware vase of flowers'. It very much looks like White-clubbed Glasswing (Scaeva pyrastri), one of the hockey stick hoverflies. Also, on the rose to the left and lower down is a potential Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus).

mage credit: St John's College, University of Oxford

Again, please visit the site below for more information about the picture and the artist.

https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/college-life/art/visit-virtually/flowers-stoneware-vase-jan-brueghel-elder/

So Is this the oldest painting with a hoverfly in it?

To be fair these are not actually paintings of hoverflies as the main subject matter, they are, as you see, tiny little additions added to these great paintings, by accomplished artists of the day. Whether they even knew what they were called is doubtful as some had not been even scientifically classified. They probably just knew them as an insect and might have even thought of them as bees or wasps.

If you know of any older painting with an identifiable hoverfly, please comment below or drop me a line, I would love to find more.

Summary:

Painting – the oldest known hoverfly in a painting is Jan Brueghel the Elder 'A stoneware vase of flower' 1607-1608

I wonder if there any other paintings of hoverflies. 

This is where I would appreciate your help, so please do not hesitate to get in touch or drop me a line it would be greatly appreciated.

This article will be updated as and when I find more. 

I wish to rightly extend my gratitude to people who have contributed to this article through messages and emails. In particular to Dr.Jill Whitelock who has been a massive contributor and without which this article would not exist. So, thank you.